fcsa*. 


11 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

James  J.  McBride 

PRESENTED  BY 

Margaret  McBride 


& 


DESERT  DUST 


By 
EDWIN    L.    SABIN 

Author  of ''  'How  Are  You  Feeling  Now  ?  "  etc. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY 

J.   CLINTON  SHEPHERD 


PHILADELPHIA 

GEORGE  W.  JACOBS  &  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1921,  by 
FRANK  A.  MUNSEY  COMPANY 

Copyright,  1922,  by 
GEORGE  W.  JACOBS  &  COMPANY 


All  rights  reserved 
Printed  in  U.  S.  A. 


Contents 

I.  A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES     . 

II.  To  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE 

III.  I  RISE  IN  FAVOR 

IV.  I  MEET  FRIENDS 

V.  ON  GRAND  TOUR     . 

VI.  "  HIGH  AND  DRY  "  . 

VII.  I  Go  TO  RENDEZVOUS 

VIII.  I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  . 

IX.  I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER 

X.  I  CUT  LOOSE  . 

XL  WE  GET  A  "  SUPER  " 

XII.  DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION 

XIII.  SOMEONE  FEARS 

XIV.  I  TAKE  A  LESSON     . 
XV.  THE  TRAIL  NARROWS 

XVI.  I  Do  THE  DEED 

XVII.  THE  TRAIL  FORKS  . 

XVIII.  VOICES  IN  THE  VOID 

XIX.  I  STAKE  AGAIN 

XX.  THE  QUEEN  WINS    . 

XXI.  WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS 

XXII.  STAR  SHINE 


9 

22 

36 

54 
72 

87 
101 


130 


161 
1 80 

196 
204 

222 

239 
251 

26O 
271 

284 
298 
312 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Like  some  land  of  heart's  desire  Frontispiece 

"Madam,"  I  uttered  foolishly, 

"Good  evening"       .       .      .  Facing  p.     84 

The  Scouts  galloped  onward    .  "       "    278 


Desert  Dust 

CHAPTER  I 

A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES 

IN  the  estimate  of  the  affable  brakeman  (a  gentle 
man  wearing  sky-blue  army  pantaloons  tucked  into 
cowhide  boots,  half-buttoned  vest,  flannel  shirt  open 
at  the  throat,  and  upon  his  red  hair  a  flaring-brimmed 
black  slouch  hat)  we  were  making  a  fair  average  of 
twenty  miles  an  hour  across  the  greatest  country  on 
earth.  It  was  a  flat  country  of  far  horizons,  and  for 
vast  stretches  peopled  mainly,  as  one  might  judge 
from  the  car  windows,  by  antelope  and  the  equally 
curious  rodents  styled  prairie  dogs. 

Yet  despite  the  novelty  of  such  a  ride  into  that 
unknown  new  West  now  being  spanned  at  giant's 
strides  by  the  miraculous  Pacific  Railway,  behold  me, 
surfeited  with  already  five  days'  steady  travel, 
engrossed  chiefly  in  observing  a  clear,  dainty  profile 
and  waiting  for  the  glimpses,  time  to  time,  of  a  pair 
of  exquisite  blue  eyes. 

Merely  to  indulge  myself  in  feminine  beauty,  how 
ever,  I  need  not  have  undertaken  the  expense  and 
fatigue  of  journeying  from  Albany  on  the  Hudson 


io  DESERT  DUST 

out  to  Omaha  on  the  plains  side  of  the  Missouri 
River;  thence  by  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  of  the 
new,  transcontinental  line  into  the  Indian  country. 
There  were  handsome  women  aplenty  in  the  East ;  and 
of  access,  also,  to  a  youth  of  family  and  parts.  I  had 
pictures  of  the  same  in  my  social  register.  A  man 
does  not  attain  to  twenty-five  years  without  having 
accomplished  a  few  pages  of  the  heart  book.  Never 
theless  all  such  pages  were — or  had  seemed  to  be — 
wholly  retrospective  now,  for  here  I  was,  advised  by 
the  physicians  to  "go  West,"  meaning  by  this  not 
simply  the  one-time  West  of  Ohio,  or  Illinois,  or  even 
Iowa,  but  the  remote  and  genuine  West  lying  beyond 
the  Missouri. 

Whereupon,  out  of  desperation  that  flung  the 
gauntlet  down  to  hope  I  had  taken  the  bull  by  the 
horns  in  earnest.  West  should  be  full  dose,  at  the  ut 
most  procurable  by  modern  conveyance. 

The  Union  Pacific  announcements  acclaimed  that 
this  summer  of  1868  the  rails  should  cross  the  Black 
Hills  Mountains  of  Wyoming  to  another  range  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  in  Utah;  and  that  by  the  end  of 
the  year  one  might  ride  comfortably  clear  to  Salt 
Lake  City.  Certainly  this  was  "  going  West "  with 
a  vengeance;  but  as  appeared  to  me — and  to  my  fa 
ther  and  mother  and  the  physicians — somewhere  in 
the  expanse  of  brand  new  Western  country,  the  plains 
and  mountains,  I  would  find  at  least  the  breath  of 
life. 


A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES  n 

When  I  arrived  in  Omaha  the  ticket  agent  was  en 
abled  to  sell  me  transportation  away  to  the  town  of 
Benton,  Wyoming  Territory  itself,  six  hundred  and 
ninety  miles  (he  said)  west  of  the  Missouri. 

Of  Benton  I  had  never  heard.  It  was  upon  no 
public  maps,  as  yet.  But  in  round  figures,  seven  hun 
dred  miles!  Practically  the  distance  from  Albany  to 
Cincinnati,  and  itself  distant  from  Albany  over  two 
thousand  miles!  All  by  rail. 

Benton  was,  he  explained,  the  present  end  of  pas 
senger  service,  this  August.  In  another  month — and 
he  laughed. 

"  Fact  is,  while  you're  standing  here,"  he  alleged, 
"  I  may  get  orders  any  moment  to  sell  a  longer  ticket. 
The  Casements  are  laying  two  to  three  miles  of  track 
a  day,  seven  days  in  the  week,  and  stepping  right  on 
the  heels  of  the  graders.  Last  April  we  were  selling 
only  to  Cheyenne,  rising  of  five  hundred  miles.  Then 
in  May  we  began  to  sell  to  Laramie,  five  hundred  and 
seventy-six  miles.  Last  of  July  we  began  selling  to 
Benton,  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles  farther.  Track's 
now  probably  fifty  or  more  miles  west  of  Benton  and 
there's  liable  to  be  another  passenger  terminus  to 
morrow.  So  it  might  pay  you  to  wait." 

"  No,"  I  said.  "  Thank  you,  but  I'll  try  Benton. 
I  can  go  on  from  there  as  I  think  best.  Could  you 
recommend  local  accommodations  ?  " 

He  stared,  through  the  bars  of  the  little  window 
behind  which  lay  a  six-chambered  revolver. 


12  DESERT  DUST 

"Could  I  do  what,  sir?" 

"  Recommend  a  hotel,  at  Benton  where  I'm  going. 
There  is  a  hotel,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Good  Lord !  "  he  exclaimed  testily.  "  In  a  city 
of  three  thousand  people?  A  hotel?  A  dozen  of 
'em,  but  I  don't  know  their  names.  What  do  you 
expect  to  find  in  Benton?  You're  from  the  East,  I 
take  it.  Going  out  on  spec',  or  pleasure,  or  health  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  advised  to  try  Western  air  for  a 
change,"  I  answered.  "  I  am  looking  for  some  place 
that  is  high,  and  dry." 

"  Consumption,  eh  ? "  he  shrewdly  remarked. 
"  High  and  dry ;  that's  it.  Oh,  yes ;  you'll  find  Ben- 
ton  high  enough,  and  toler'bly  dry.  You  bet!  And 
nobody  dies  natural,  at  Benton,  they  say.  Here's 
your  ticket.  Thank  you.  And  the  change.  Next, 
please." 

It  did  not  take  me  long  to  gather  the  change  re 
maining  from  seventy  dollars  greenbacks  swapped  for 
six  hundred  and  ninety  miles  of  travel  at  ten  cents  a 
mile.  I  hastily  stepped  aside.  A  subtle  fragrance 
and  a  rustle  warned  me  that  I  was  obstructing  a 
representative  of  the  fair  sex.  So  did  the  smirk  and 
smile  of  the  ticket  agent. 

"Your  pardon,  madam,"  I  proffered,  lifting  my 
hat — agreeably  dazzled  while  thus  performing. 

She  acknowledged  the  tribute  with  a  faint  blush. 
While  pocketing  my  change  and  stowing  away  my 
ticket  I  had  opportunity  to  survey  her  further. 


A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES  13 

"  Benton,"  she  said  briefly,  to  the  agent. 

We  were  bound  for  the  same  point,  then.  Ye  gods, 
but  she  was  a  little  beauty:  a  perfect  blonde,  of  the 
petite  and  fully  formed  type,  with  regular  features 
inclined  to  the  clean-cut  Grecian,  a  piquant  mouth 
deliciously  bowed,  two  eyes  of  the  deepest  blue  veiled 
by  long  lashes,  and  a  mass  of  glinting  golden  hair 
upon  which  perched  a  ravishing  little  bonnet.  The 
natural  ensemble  was  enhanced  by  her  costume,  all  of 
black,  from  the  closely  fitting  bodice  to  the  rustling 
crinoline  beneath  which  there  peeped  out  tiny  shoes. 
I  had  opportunity  also  to  note  the  jet  pendant  in  the 
shelly  ear  toward  me,  and  the  flashing  rings  upon  the 
fingers  of  her  hands,  ungloved  in  order  to  sort  out  the 
money  from  her  reticule. 

Sooth  to  say,  I  might  not  stand  there  gawking. 
Once,  by  a  demure  sideways-  glance,  she  betrayed 
knowledge  of  my  presence.  Her  own  transaction  was 
all  matter-of-fact,  as  if  engaging  passage  to  Benton  of 
Wyoming  Territory  contained  no  novelty  for  her. 
Could  she  by  any  chance  live  there — a  woman  dressed 
like  she  was,  as  much  a  la  mode  as  if  she  walked 
Broadway  in  New  York?  Omaha  itself  had  aston 
ished  me  with  the  display  upon  its  streets ;  and  now  if 
Benton,  far  out  in  the  wilderness,  should  prove 

another  surprise !  Indeed,  the  Western  world 

was  not  so  raw,  after  all.  Strange  to  say,  as  soon  as 
one  crossed  the  Missouri  River  one  began  to  sense 
romance,  and  to  discover  it. 


14  DESERT  DUST 

As  seemed  to  me,  the  ticket  agent  would  have 
detained  her,  in  defiance  of  the  waiting  line;  but  she 
finished  her  business  shortly,  with  shorter  replies  to 
his  idle  remarks ;  and  I  turned  away  under  pretense  of 
examining  some  placards  upon  the  wall  advertising 
"  Platte  Valley  lands  "  for  sale.  I  had  curiosity  to 
see  which  way  she  wended.  Then  as  she  tripped  for 
the  door,  casting  eyes  never  right  nor  left,  and  still 
fumbling  at  her  reticule,  a  coin  slipped  from  her 
fingers  and  rolled,  by  good  fortune,  across  the  floor. 

I  was  after  it  instantly;  caught  it,  and  with  best 
bow  presented  it. 

"  Permit  me,  madam." 

She  took  it. 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

For  a  moment  she  paused  to  restore  it  to  its  com 
pany;  and  I  grasped  the  occasion. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  You  are  going  to  Benton,  of 
Wyoming  Territory?" 

Her  eyes  met  mine  so  completely  as  well-nigh  to 
daze  me  with  their  glory.  There  was  a  quizzical  up 
lift  in  her  frank,  arch  smile. 

"  I  am,  sir.  To  Benton  City,  of  Wyoming  Terri 
tory." 

"  You  are  acquainted  there  ?  "  I  ventured. 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  am  acquainted  there.  And  you  are 
from  Benton?" 

"  Oh,  no,"  I  assured.  "  I  am  from  New  York 
State."  As  if  anybody  might  not  have  known. 


A   PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES  15 

"  But  I  have  just  purchased  my  ticket  to  Benton, 
and "  I  stammered,  "  I  have  made  bold  to  won 
der  if  you  would  not  have  the  goodness  to  tell  me 
something  of  the  place — as  to  accommodations,  and 
all  that.  You  don't  by  any  chance  happen  to  live 
there,  do  you?" 

"And  why  not,  sir,  may  I  ask?  "  she  challenged. 

I  floundered  before  her  query  direct,  and  her  be 
wildering  eyes  and  lips — all  tantalizing. 

"  I  didn't  know — I  had  no  idea — Wyoming  Ter 
ritory  has  been  mentioned  in  the  newspapers  as 
largely  Indian  country " 

"At  Benton  we  are  only  six  days  behind  New  York 
fashions,"  she  smiled.  "  You  have  not  been  out  over 
the  railroad,  then,  I  suspect.  Not  to  North  Platte? 
Nor  to  Cheyenne  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  been  west  of  Cincinnati  before." 

"You  have  surely  been  reading  of  the  railroad? 
The  Pacific  Railway  between  the  East  and  Cali 
fornia?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed.  In  fact,  a  friend  of  mine,  named 
Stephen  Clark,  nephew  of  the  Honorable  Thurlow 
Weed  formerly  of  Albany,  was  killed  a  year  ago  by 
your  Indians  while  surveying  west  of  the  Black  Hills. 
And  of  course  there  have  been  accounts  in  the  New 
York  papers." 

"You  are  not  on  survey  service?  Or  possibly, 
yes?" 

"  No,  madam." 


i6  DESERT  DUST 

"A  pleasure  trip  to  end  of  track?" 

She  evidently  was  curious,  but  I  was  getting  ac 
customed  to  questions  into  private  matters.  That  was 
the  universal  license,  out  here. 

"  The  pleasure  of  finding  health,"  I  laughed.  "  I 
have  been  advised  to  seek  a  location  high  and  dry." 

"Oh!"  She  dimpled  adorably.  "I  congratulate 
you  on  your  choice.  You  will  make  no  mistake,  then, 
in  trying  Benton.  I  can  promise  you  that  it  is  high 
and  reasonably  dry.  And  as  for  accommodations — so 
far  as  I  have  ever  heard  anybody  is  accommodated 
there  with  whatever  he  may  wish."  She  darted  a 
glance  at  me;  stepped  aside  as  if  to  leave. 

"  I  am  to  understand  that  it  is  a  city?  "  I  pleaded. 

"  Benton  ?  Why,  certainly.  All  the  world  is 
flowing  to  Benton.  We  gained  three  thousand  people 
in  two  weeks — much  to  the  sorrow  of  poor  old 
Cheyenne  and  Laramie.  No  doubt  there  are  five 
thousand  people  there  now,  and  all  busy.  Yes,  a 
young  man  will  find  his  opportunities  in  Benton.  I 
think  your  choice  will  please  you.  Money  is  plentiful, 
and  so  are  the  chances  to  spend  it."  She  bestowed 
upon  me  another  sparkling  glance.  "And  since  we 
are  both  going  to  Benton  I  will  say  'Au  revoir/  sir." 
She  left  me  quivering. 

"You  do  live  there?"  I  besought,  after;  and  re 
ceived  a  nod  of  the  golden  head  as  she  entered  the 
sacred  Ladies'  Waiting  Room. 

Until  the  train  should  be  made  up  I  might  only 


A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES  17 

stroll,  restless  and  strangely  buoyed,  with  that  vision 
of  an  entrancing  fellow  traveler  rilling  my  eyes. 
Summoned  in  due  time  by  the  clamor  "  Passengers 
for  the  Pacific  Railway!  All  aboard,  going  west  on 
the  Union  Pacific !  "  here  amidst  the  platform  hurly- 
burly  of  men,  women,  children  and  bundles  I  had  the 
satisfaction  to  sight  the  black-clad  figure  of  My  Lady 
of  the  Blue  Eyes ;  hastening,  like  the  rest,  but  not  un 
attended — for  a  brakeman  bore  her  valise  and  the 
conductor  her  parasol.  The  scurrying  crowd  gallantly 
parted  before  her.  It  as  promptly  closed  upon  her 
wake;  try  as  I  might  I  was  utterly  unable  to  keep  in 
her  course. 

Obviously,  the  train  was  to  be  well  occupied. 
Carried  on  willy-nilly  I  mounted  the  first  steps  at 
hand;  elbowed  on  down  the  aisle  until  I  managed  to 
squirm  aside  into  a  vacant  seat.  The  remaining  half 
was  at  once  effectually  filled  by  a  large,  stout,  red- 
faced  woman  who  formed  the  base  of  a  pyramid  of 
boxes  and  parcels. 

My  neighbor,  who  blocked  all  egress,  was  going  to 
North  Platte,  three  hundred  miles  westward,  I 
speedily  found  out.  And  she  almost  as  speedily 
learned  that  I  was  going  to  Benton. 

She  stared,  round-eyed. 

"  I  reckon  you're  a  gambler,  young  man,"  she 
accused. 

"  No,  madam.     Do  I  look  like  a  gambler?  " 

"  You  can't  tell  by  looks,  young  man,"  she  asserted, 


18  DESERT  DUST 

still  suspicious.  "  Maybe  you're  on  spec',  then,  in 
some  other  way." 

"  I  am  seeking  health  in  the  West,  is  all,  where  the 
climate  is  high  and  dry." 

"My  Gawd!"  she  blurted.  "High  and  dry! 
You're  goin'  to  the  right  place.  For  all  I  hear  tell, 
Benton  is  high  enough  and  dry  enough.  Are  your 
eye-teeth  peeled,  young  man  ?  " 

"  My  eye-teeth  ?  "  I  repeated.  "  I  hope  so,  madam. 
Are  eye-teeth  necessary  in  Benton  ?  " 

"  Peeled,  and  with  hair  on  'em,  young  man,"  she 
assured.  "  I  guess  you're  a  pilgrim,  ain't  you  ?  I  see 
a  leetle  green  in  your  eye.  No,  you  ain't  a  tin-horn. 
You're  some  mother's  boy,  jest  gettin'  away  from  the 
trough.  My  sakes!  Sick,  too,  eh?  Weak  lungs, 
ain't  it?  Now  you  tell  me:  Why  you  goin'  to  Ben- 
ton?" 

There  was  an  inviting  kindness  in  her  query. 
Plainly  she  had  a  good  heart,  large  in  proportion  with 
her  other  bulk. 

"  It's  the  farthest  point  west  that  I  can  reach  by 
railroad,  and  everybody  I  have  talked  with  has  rec 
ommended  it  as  high  and  dry." 

"  So  it  is,"  she  nodded ;  and  chuckled  fatly.  "  But 
laws  sakes,  you  don't  need  to  go  that  fur.  You  can 
as  well  stop  off  at  North  Platte,  or  Sidney  or  Chey 
enne.  They'll  sculp  you  sure  at  Benton,  unless  you 
watch  out  mighty  sharp." 

"  How  so,  may  I  ask?  " 


A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES  19 

"  You're  certainly  green,"  she  apprised.  "  Ben- 
ton's  roarin' — and  I  know  what  that  means.  Didn't 
North  Platte  roar?  I  seen  it  at  its  beginnin's.  My 
old  man  and  me,  we  were  there  from  the  fust,  when 
it  started  in  as  the  railroad  terminal.  My  sakes,  but 
them  were  times!  What  with  the  gamblin'  and  the 
shootin'  and  the  drinkin'  and  the  high-cockalorums 
night  and  day,  'twasn't  no  place  for  innocence.  Easy 
come,  easy  go,  that  was  the  word.  I  don't  say  but 
what  times  were  good,  though.  My  old  man  con 
tracted  government  freight,  and  I  run  an  eatin'  house 
for  the  railroaders,  so  we  made  money.  Then  when 
the  railroad  moved  terminus,  the  wust  of  the  crowd 
moved,  too,  and  us  others  who  stayed  turned  North 
Platte  into  a  strictly  moral  town.  But  land  sakes! 
North  Platte  in  its  roarin'  days  wasn't  no  place  for  a 
young  man  like  you.  Neither  was  Julesburg,  or  Sid 
ney,  or  Cheyenne,  when  they  was  terminuses.  And  I 
hear  tell  Benton  is  wuss'n  all  rolled  into  one.  Young 
man,  now  listen:  You  stop  off  at  North  Platte,  Ne- 
brasky.  It's  healthy  and  it's  moral,  and  it's  goin'  to 
make  Omyha  look  like  a  shinplaster.  I'll  watch  after 
you.  Maybe  I  can  get  you  a  job  in  my  man's  store. 
You've  j'ined  some  church,  I  reckon?  Now  if  you're 
a  Baptist ?" 

But  since  I  had  crossed  the  Missouri  something  had 
entered  into  my  blood  which  rendered  me  obstinate 
against  such  allurements.  For  her  North  Platte, 
"  strictly  moral,"  and  the  guardianship  of  her  broad 


ao  DESERT  DUST 

motherly  wing  I  had  no  ardent  feeling.  I  was  set 
upon  Benton;  foolishly,  fatuously  set.  And  in  after 
days — soon  to  arrive — I  bitterly  regretted  that  I  had 
not  yielded  to  her  wholesome,  honest  counsel. 

Nevertheless  this  was  true,  at  present: 

"  But  I  have  already  purchased  my  ticket  to  Ben- 
ton,"  I  objected.  "  I  understand  that  I  shall  find  the 
proper  climate  there,  and  suitable  accommodations. 
And  if  I  don't  like  it  I  can  move  elsewhere.  Possibly 
to  Salt  Lake  City,  or  Denver." 

She  snorted. 

"  In  among  them  Mormons  ?  My  Gawd,  young 
man!  Where  they  live  in,  conkibinage — several 
women  to  one  man,  like  a  buffler  herd  or  other  beasts 
of  the  field?  I  guess  your  mother  never  heard  you 
talk  like  that.  Denver — well,  Denver  mightn't  be  bad, 
though  I  do  hear  tell  that  folks  nigh  starve  to  death 
there,  what  with  the  Injuns  and  the  snow.  Denver 
ain't  on  no  railroad,  either.  If  you  want  health,  and 
to  grow  up  with  a  strictly  moral  community,  you 
throw  in  with  North  Platte  of  Nebrasky,  the  great 
and  growin'  city  of  the  Plains.  I  reckon  you've  heard 
of  North  Platte,  even  where  you  come  from.  You 
take  my  word  for  it,  and  exchange  your  ticket." 

It  struck  me  here  that  the  good  woman  might  not 
be  unbiased  in  her  fondness  for  North  Platte.  To 
extol  the  present  and  future  of  these  Western  towns 
seemed  a  fixed  habit.  During  my  brief  stay  in 
Omaha — yes,  on  the  way  across  Illinois  and  Iowa 


A  PAIR  OF  BLUE  EYES  21 

from  Chicago,  I  had  encountered  this  peculiar  trait. 
Iowa  was  rife  with  aspiring  if  embryonic  metropo 
lises.  Now  in  Nebraska  Columbus  was  destined  to  be 
the  new  national  capital  and  the  center  of  population 
for  the  United  States ;  Fremont  was  lauded  as  one  of 
the  great  railroad  junctions  of  the  world;  and  North 
Platte,  three  hundred  miles  out  into  the  plains,  was 
proclaimed  as  the  rival  of  Omaha,  and  "  strictly 
moral." 

"  I  thank  you,"  I  replied.  "  But  since  I've  started 
for  Benton  I  think  I'll  go  on.  And  if  I  don't  like  it 
or  it  doesn't  agree  with  me  you  may  see  me  in  North 
Platte  after  all." 

She  grunted. 

"  You  can  find  me  at  the  Bon  Ton  restaurant.  If 
you  get  in  broke,  I'll  take  care  of  you." 

With  that  she  settled  herself  comfortably.  In  re 
markably  short  order  she  was  asleep  and  snoring. 


CHAPTER  II 

TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE 

THE  train  had  started  amidst  clangor  of  bell  and 
the  shouts  of  good-bye  and  good-luck  from  the  crowd 
upon  the  station  platform.  We  had  rolled  out 
through  train  yards  occupied  to  the  fullest  by  car 
shops,  round  house,  piled-up  freight  depot,  stacks  of 
ties  and  iron,  and  tracks  covered  with  freight  cars 
loaded  high  to  rails,  ties,  baled  hay,  all  manner  and 
means  of  supplies  designed,  I  imagined,  for  the  build 
ing  operations  far  in  the  West. 

Soon  we  had  left  this  busy  Train  Town  behind,  and 
were  entering  the  open  country.  The  landscape  was 
pleasing,  but  the  real  sights  probably  lay  ahead;  so  I 
turned  from  my  window  to  examine  my  traveling 
quarters. 

The  coach — a  new  one,  built  in  the  company's  shops 
and  decidedly  upon  a  par  with  the  very  best  coaches 
of  the  Eastern  roads — was  jammed ;  every  seat  taken. 
I  did  not  see  My  Lady  of  the  Blue  Eyes,  nor  her 
equal,  but  almost  the  whole  gamut  of  society  was 
represented:  Farmers,  merchants,  a  few  soldiers, 
plainsmen  in  boots  and  flannel  shirt-sleeves  and  long 
hair  and  large  hats,  with  revolvers  hanging  from  the 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE          23 

racks  above  them  or  from  the  seat  ends;  one  or  two 
white-faced  gentry  in  broadcloth  and  patent-leather 
shoes — who  I  fancied  might  be  gamblers  such  as  now 
and  then  plied  their  trade  upon  the  Hudson  River 
boats;  two  Indians  in  blankets;  Eastern  tourists,  akin 
to  myself;  women  and  children  of  country  type;  and 
so  forth.  What  chiefly  caught  my  eye  were  the  car 
bines  racked  against  the  ends  of  the  coach,  for  pro 
tection  in  case  of  Indians  or  highwaymen,  no  doubt. 
I  observed  bottles  being  passed  from  hand  to  hand, 
and  tilted  en  route.  The  amount  and  frequency  of 
the  whiskey  for  consumption  in  this  country  were  as 
tonishing. 

My  friend  snored  peacefully.  Near  noon  we  halted 
for  dinner  at  the  town  of  Fremont,  some  fifty  miles 
out.  She  awakened  at  the  general  stir,  and  when  I 
squeezed  by  her  she  immediately  fished  for  a  packet  of 
lunch.  We  had  thirty  minutes  at  Fremont — ample 
time  in  which  to  discuss  a  very  excellent  meal  of 
antelope  steaks,  prairie  fowl,  fried  potatoes  and  hot 
biscuits.  There  was  promise  of  buffalo  meat  farther 
on,  possibly  at  the  next  meal  station,  Grand  Island. 

The  time  was  sufficient,  also,  to  give  me  another 
glimpse  of  My  Lady  of  the  Blue  Eyes,  who  appeared 
to  have  been  awarded  the  place  of  honor  between  the 
conductor  and  the  brakeman,  at  table.  She  bestowed 
upon  me  a  subtle  glance  of  recognition — with  a  smile 
and  a  slight  bow  in  one ;  but  I  failed  to  find  her  upon 
the  station  platform  after  the  meal.  That  I  should 


24  DESERT  DUST 

obtain  other  opportunities  I  did  not  doubt.  Benton 
was  yet  thirty  hours'  travel. 

All  that  afternoon  we  rocked  along  up  the  Platte 
Valley,  with  the  Platte  River — a  broad  but  shallow 
stream — constantly  upon  our  left.  My  seat  com 
panion  evidently  had  exhausted  her  repertoire,  for 
she  slumbered  at  ease,  gradually  sinking  into  a  shape 
less  mass,  her  flowered  bonnet  askew.  Several  other 
passengers  also  were  sleeping;  due,  in  part,  to  the 
whiskey  bottles.  The  car  was  thinning  out,  I  noted, 
and  I  might  bid  in  advance  for  the  chance  of  obtain 
ing  a  new  location  in  a  certain  car  ahead. 

The  scenery  through  the  car  window  had  merged 
into  a  monotony  accentuated  by  great  spaces.  As  far 
as  Fremont  the  country  along  the  railroad  had  been 
well  settled  with  farms  and  un fenced  cultivated  fields. 
Now  we  had  issued  into  the  untrammeled  prairies, 
here  and  there  humanized  by  an  isolated  shack  or  a 
lonely  traveler  by  horse  or  wagon,  but  in  the  main  a 
vast  sun-baked  dead  sea  of  gentle,  silent  undulations 
extending,  brownish,  clear  to  the  horizons.  The  only 
refreshing  sights  were  the  Platte  River,  flowing  blue 
and  yellow  among  sand-bars  and  islands,  and  the  side 
streams  that  we  passed.  Close  at  hand  the  principal 
tokens  of  life  were  the  little  flag  stations,  and  the 
tremendous  freight  trains  side-tracked  to  give  us  the 
right  of  way.  The  widely  separated  hamlets  where 
we  impatiently  stopped  were  the  oases  in  the  desert. 

In  the  sunset  we  halted  at  the  supper  station,  named 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE          25 

Grand  Island.  My  seat  neighbor  finished  her  lunch 
box,  and  I  returned  well  fortified  by  another  excel 
lent  meal  at  the  not  exorbitant  price,  one  dollar  and 
a  quarter.  There  had  been  buffalo  meat — a  poor 
apology,  to  my  notion,  for  good  beef.  Antelope 
steak,  on  the  contrary,  was  of  far  finer  flavor  than  the 
best  mutton. 

At  Grand  Island  a  number  of  wretched  native  In 
dians  drew  my  attention,  for  the  time  being,  from 
quest  of  My  Lady  of  the  Blue  Eyes.  However,  she 
was  still  escorted  by  the  conductor,  who  in  his  brass 
buttons  and  officious  air  began  to  irritate  me.  Such 
a  persistent  squire  of  dames  rather  overstepped  the 
duties  of  his  position.  Confound  the  fellow!  He 
surely  would  come  to  the  end  of  his  run  and  his  rope 
before  we  went  much  farther. 

"  Now,  young  man,  if  you  get  shet  of  your  foolish 
ness  and  decide  to  try  North  Platte  instead  of  some 
fly-by-night  town  on  west,"  my  seat  companion  ad 
dressed,  "  you  jest  follow  me  when  I  leave.  We  get 
to  North  Platte  after  plumb  dark,  and  you  hang  onto 
my  skirts  right  up  town,  till  I  land  you  in  a  good 
place.  For  if  you  don't,  you're  liable  to  be  skinned 
alive." 

"  If  I  decide  upon  North  Platte  I  certainly  will  take 
advantage  of  your  kindness,"  I  evaded.  Forsooth, 
she  had  a  mind  to  kidnap  me ! 

"  Now  you're  talkin'  sensible,"  she  approved. 
M  My  sakes  alive !  Benton ! "  And  she  sniffed. 


26  DESERT  DUST 

"  Why,  in  Benton  they'll  snatch  you  bald-headed  'fore 
you've  been  there  an  hour." 

She  composed  herself  for  another  nap. 

"If  that  pesky  brakeman  don't  remember  to  wake 
me,  you  give  me  a  poke  with  your  elbow.  I  wouldn't 
be  carried  beyond  North  Platte  for  love  or  money." 

She  gurgled,  she  snored.  The  sunset  was  fading 
from  pink  to  gold — a  gold  like  somebody's  hair;  and 
from  gold  to  lemon  which  tinted  all  the  prairie  and 
made  it  beautiful.  Pursuing  the  sunset  we  steadily 
rumbled  westward  through  the  immensity  of  un 
broken  space. 

The  brakeman  came  in,  lighting  the  coal-oil  lamps. 
Outside,  the  twilight  had  deepened  into  dusk.  Nu 
merous  passengers  were  making  ready  for  bed:  the 
men  by  removing  their  boots  and  shoes  and  coats  and 
galluses  and  stretching  out;  the  women  by  loosening 
their  stays,  with  significant  clicks  and  sighs,  and  lay 
ing  their  heads  upon  adjacent  shoulders  or  drooping 
against  seat  ends.  Babies  cried,  and  were  hushed. 
Final  night-caps  were  taken,  from  the  prevalent  bot 
tles. 

The  brakeman,  returning,  paused  and  inquired 
right  and  left  on  his  way  through.  He  leaned  to  me. 

"You  for  North  Platte?" 

"  No,  sir.    Benton,  Wyoming  Territory." 

"  Then  you'd  better  move  up  to  the  car  ahead. 
This  car  stops  at  North  Platte." 

"What  time  do  we  reach  North  Platte?  " 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE          27 

"  Two-thirty  in  the  morning.  If  you  don't  want  to 
be  waked  up,  you'd  better  change  now.  You'll  find 
a  seat." 

At  that  I  gladly  followed  him  out.  He  indicated  a 
half -empty  seat. 

"This  gentleman  gets  off  a  bit  farther  on;  then 
you'll  have  the  seat  to  yourself." 

The  arrangement  was  satisfactory,  albeit  the 
"  gentleman  "  with  whom  I  shared  appeared,  to  nose 
and  eyes,  rather  well  soused,  as  they  say;  but  fortune 
had  favored  me — across  the  aisle,  only  a  couple  of 
seats  beyond,  I  glimpsed  the  top  of  a  golden  head, 
securely  low  and  barricaded  in  by  luggage. 

Without  regrets  I  abandoned  my  former  seat-mate 
to  her  disappointment  when  she  waked  at  North 
Platte.  This  car  was  the  place  for  me,  set  apart  by 
the  salient  presence  of  one  person  among  all  the 
others.  That,  however,  is  apt  to  differentiate  city 
from  city,  and  even  land  from  land. 

Eventually  I,  also,  slept — at  first  by  fits  and  starts 
concomitant  with  railway  travel  by  night,  then  more 
soundly  when  the  "  gentleman,"  my  comrade  in  ad 
venture,  had  been  hauled  out  and  deposited  elsewhere. 
I  fully  awakened  only  at  daylight. 

The  train  was  rumbling  as  before.  The  lamps  had 
been  extinguished — the  coach  atmosphere  was  heavy 
with  oil  smell  and  the  exhalations  of  human  beings 
in  all  stages  of  deshabille.  But  the  golden  head  was 
there,  about  as  when  last  sighted. 


28  DESERT  DUST 

Now  it  stirred,  and  erected  a  little.  I  felt  the  un 
seemliness  of  sitting  and  waiting  for  her  to  make  her 
toilet,  so  I  hastily  staggered  to  achieve  my  own  by 
aid  of  the  water  tank,  tin  basin,  roller  towel  and  small 
looking-glass  at  the  rear — substituting  my  personal 
comb  and  brush  for  the  pair  hanging  there  by 
cords. 

The  coach  was  the  last  in  the  train.  I  stepped  out 
upon  the  platform,  for  fresh  air. 

We  were  traversing  the  real  plains  of  the  Great 
American  Desert,  I  judged.  The  prairie  grasses  had 
shortened  to  brown  stubble  interspersed  with  bare 
sandy  soil  rising  here  and  there  into  low  hills.  It 
was  a  country  without  north,  south,  east,  west,  save 
as  denoted  by  the  sun,  broadly  launching  his  first 
beams  of  the  day.  Behind  us  the  single  track  of 
double  rails  stretched  straight  away  as  if  clear  to  the 
Missouri.  The  dull  blare  of  the  car  wheels  was  the 
only  token  of  life,  excepting  the  long-eared  rabbits 
scampering  with  erratic  high  jumps,  and  the  prairie 
dogs  sitting  bolt  upright  in  the  sunshine  among  their 
hillocked  burrows.  Of  any  town  there  was  no  sign. 
We  had  cut  loose  from  company. 

Then  we  thundered  by  a  freight  train,  loaded  with 
still  more  ties  and  iron,  standing  upon  a  siding 
guarded  by  the  idling  trainmen  and  by  an  operator's 
shack.  Smoke  was  welling  from  the  chimney  of  the 
shack — and  that  domestic  touch  gave  me  a  sense  of 
homesickness.  Yet  I  would  not  have  been  home,  even 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE          29 

for  breakfast.  This  wide  realm  of  nowhere  fasci 
nated  with  the  unknown. 

The  train  and  shack  flattened  into  the  landscape. 
A  bevy  of  antelope  flashed  white  tails  at  us  as  they 
scudded  away.  Two  motionless  figures,  horseback, 
whom  I  took  to  be  wild  Indians,  surveyed  us  from  a 
distant  sand-hill.  Across  the  river  there  appeared  a 
fungus  of  low  buildings,  almost  indistinguishable, 
with  a  glimmer  of  canvas-topped  wagons  fringing  it. 
That  was  the  old  emigrant  road. 

While  I  was  thus  orienting  myself  in  lonesome 
but  not  entirely  hopeless  fashion  the  car  door  opened 
and  closed.  I  turned  my  head.  The  Lady  of  the 
Blue  Eyes  had  joined  me.  As  fresh  as  the  morning 
she  was. 

"Oh!  You?  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir."  She  apolo 
gized,  but  I  felt  that  the  diffidence  was  more  politic 
than  sincere. 

"  You  are  heartily  welcome,  madam,"  I  assured. 
"  There  is  air  enough  for  us  both." 

"  The  car  is  suffocating,"  she  said.  "  However,  the 
worst  is  over.  We  shall  not  have  to  spend  another 
such  a  night.  You  are  still  for  Benton  ?  " 

"  By  all  means."  And  I  bowed  to  her.  "  We  are 
fellow-travelers  to  the  end,  I  believe." 

"Yes?"  She  scanned  me.  "But  I  do  not  like 
that  word:  the  end.  It  is  not  a  popular  word,  in  the 
West.  Certainly  not  at  Benton.  For  instance " 

We  tore  by  another  freight  waiting  upon  a  siding 


30  DESERT  DUST 

located  amidst  a  wide  debris  of  tin  cans,  scattered 
sheet-iron,  stark  mud-and-stone  chimneys,  and  bar 
ren  spots,  resembling  the  ruins  from  fire  and  quake. 

"  There  is  Julesburg." 

"  A  town?  "  I  gasped. 

"  The  end."  She  smiled.  "  The  only  inhabitants 
now  are  in  the  station-house  and  the  graveyard." 

"  And  the  others?    Where  are  they?  " 

"  Farther  west.     Many  of  them  in  Benton." 

"  Indeed  ?    Or  in  North  Platte !  "  I  bantered. 

"North  Platte!"  She  laughed  merrily.  "Dear 
me,  don't  mention  North  Platte — not  in  the  same 
breath  with  Benton,  or  even  Cheyenne.  A  town  of 
hayseeds  and  dollar-a-day  clerks  whose  height  of 
sport  is  to  go  fishing  in  the  Platte!  A  young  man 
like  you  would  die  of  ennui  in  North  Platte.  Jules^ 
burg  was  a  good  town  while  it  lasted.  People  lived, 
there;  and  moved  on  because  they  wished  to  keep 
alive.  What  is  life,  anyway,  but  a  constant  shuffle 
of  the  cards?  Oh,  I  should  have  laughed  to  see  you 
in  North  Platte."  And  laugh  she  did.  "  You  might 
as  well  be  dead  underground  as  buried  in  one  of  those 
smug  seven-Sabbaths-a-week  places." 

Her  free  speech  accorded  ill  with  what  I  had  been 
accustomed  to  in  womankind;  and  yet  became  her 
sparkling  eyes  and  general  dash. 

"To  be  dead  is  past  the  joking,  madam,"  I  re 
minded. 

"  Certainly.    To  be  dead  is  the  end.    In  Benton  we 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE          31 

live  while  we  live,  and  don't  mention  the  end.  So  I 
took  exception  to  your  gallantry."  She  glanced  be 
hind  her,  through  the  door  window  into  the  car. 
"  Will  you,"  she  asked  hastily,  "  join  me  in  a  little 
appetizer,  as  they  say?  You  will  find  it  a  superior 
cognac — and  we  breakfast  shortly,  at  Sidney." 

From  a  pocket  of  her  skirt  she  had  extracted  a 
small  silver  flask,  stoppered  with  a  tiny  screw  cup. 
Her  face  swam  before  me,  in  my  astonishment. 

"  I  rarely  drink  liquor,  madam,"  I  stammered. 

"  Nor  I.  But  when  traveling — you  know.  And  in 
high  and — dry  Benton  liquor  is  quite  a  necessity. 
You  will  discover  that,  I  am  sure.  You  will  not  de 
cline  to  taste  with  a  lady?  Let  us  drink  to  better 
acquaintance,  in  Benton." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  madam,"  I  blurted. 

She  poured,  while  swaying  to  the  motion  of  the 
train ;  passed  the  cup  to  me  with  a  brightly  challeng 
ing  smile. 

"Ladies  first.  That  is  the  custom,  is  it  not?"  I 
queried. 

"  But  I  am  hostess,  sir.  I  do  the  honors.  Pray  do 
you  your  duty." 

"  To  our  better  acquaintance,  then,  madam,"  I  ac 
cepted.  "In  Benton." 

The  cognac  swept  down  my  throat  like  a  stab  of 
hot  oil.  She  poured  for  herself. 

"A  votre  sante,  monsieur — and  continued  begin 
nings,  no  ends."  She  daintily  tossed  it  off. 


32  DESERT  DUST 

We  had  consummated  our  pledges  just  in  time. 
The  brakeman  issued,  stumping  noisily  and  bringing 
discord  into  my  heaven  of  blue  and  gold  and  com 
fortable  warmth. 

"Howdy,  lady  and  gent?  Breakfast  in  twenty 
minutes."  He  grinned  affably  at  her;  yes,  with  a  trace 
of  familiarity.  "  Sleep  well,  madam  ?  " 

"  Passably,  thank  you."  Her  voice  held  a  certain 
element  of  calm  interrogation  as  if  to  ask  how  far  he 
intended  to  push  acquaintance.  "  We're  nearing  Sid 
ney,  you  say?  Then  I  bid  you  gentlemen  good- 
morning." 

With  a  darting  glance  at  him  and  a  parting  smile 
for  me  she  passed  inside.  The  brakeman  leaned 
for  an  instant's  look  ahead,  up  the  track,  and  lin 
gered. 

"  Friend  of  yours,  is  she?  " 

"  I  met  her  at  Omaha,  is  all,"  I  stiffly  informed. 

"  Considerable  of  a  dame,  eh  ?  "  He  eyed  me. 
"  You're  booked  for  Benton,  too  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Never  been  there,  myself.  She's  another  hell- 
roarer,  they  say." 

"Sir!"  I  remonstrated. 

"  Oh,  the  town,  the  town,"  he  enlightened.  "  I'm 
saying  nothing  against  it,  for  that  matter — nor 
against  her,  either.  They're  both  O.  K." 

"You  are  acquainted  with  the  lady,  yourself?" 

"  Her  ?    Sure.    I  know  about  everybody  along  the 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE  33 

line  between  Platte  and  Cheyenne.  Been  running  on 
this  division  ever  since  it  opened." 

"  She  lives  in  Benton,  though,  I  understand,"  I 
proffered. 

"  Why,  yes ;  sure  she  does.  Moved  there  from 
Cheyenne."  He  looked  at  me  queerly.  "  Naturally. 
Ain't  that  so  ?  " 

"  Probably  it  is,"  I  admitted.  "  I  see  no  reason  to 
doubt  your  word." 

"  Yep.  Followed  her  man.  A  heap  of  people 
moved  from  Cheyenne  to  Benton,  by  way  of  Lara- 
mie." 

"  She  is  married,  then  ?  " 

"  Far  as  I  know.  Anyway,  she's  not  single,  by  a 
long  shot."  And  he  laughed.  "  But,  Lord,  that  cuts 
no  great  figger.  People  here  don't  stand  on  cere 
mony  in  those  matters.  Everything's  aboveboard. 
Hands  on  the  table  until  time  to  draw — then  draw 
quick." 

His  language  was  a  little  too  bluff  for  me. 

"  Her  husband  is  in  business,  no  doubt?  " 

"  Business  ?  "  He  stared  unblinking.  "  I  see." 
He  laid  a  finger  alongside  his  nose,  and  winked 
wisely.  "  You  bet  yuh !  And  good  business.  Yes, 
siree.  Are  you  on?  " 

"Am  I  on?"  I  repeated.  "On  what?  The 
train?" 

"  Oh,  on  your  way." 

"To  Benton;  certainly." 


34  DESERT  DUST 

"  Do  you  see  any  green  in  my  eye,  friend?  "  he  de 
manded. 

"  I  do  not." 

"  Or  in  the  moon,  maybe  ?  " 

"  No,  nor  in  the  moon,"  I  retorted.  "  But  what  is 
all  this  about?" 

"  I'll  be  damned !  "  he  roundly  vouchsafed.  And — > 
"  You've  been  having  a  quiet  little  smile  with  her, 
eh?"  He  sniffed  suspiciously.  "A  few  swigs  of 
that'll  make  a  pioneer  of  you  quicker'n  alkali.  She's 
favoring  you — eh?  Now  if  she  tells  you  of  a  system, 
take  my  advice  and  quit  while  your  hair's  long." 

"  My  hair  is  my  own  fashion,  sir,"  I  rebuked. 
"  And  the  lady  is  not  for  discussion  between  gentle 
men,  particularly  as  my  acquaintance  with  her  is  only 
casual.  I  don't  understand  your  remarks,  but  if  they 
are  insinuations  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to  drop  the 
subject." 

"  Tut,  tut !  "  he  grinned.  "  No  offense  intended, 
Mister  Pilgrim.  Well,  you're  all  right.  We  can't  be 
young  more  than  once,  and  if  the  lady  takes  you  in 
tow  in  Benton  you'll  have  the  world  by  the  tail  as  long 
as  it  holds.  She  moves  with  the  top-notchers ;  she's  a 
knowing  little  piece — no  offense.  Her  and  me  are 
good  enough  friends.  There's  no  brace  game  in  that 
deal.  I  only  aim  to  give  you  a  steer.  Savvy?"  And 
he  winked.  "  You're  out  to  see  the  elephant,  your 
self." 

"  I  am  seeking  health,  is  all,"  I  explained.     "  My 


TO  BETTER  ACQUAINTANCE          35 

physician  had  advised  a  place  in  the  Far  West,  high 
and  dry;  and  Benton  is  recommended." 

His  response  was  identical  with  others  preceding. 

"  High  and  dry  ?  By  golly,  then  Benton's  the 
ticket.  It's  sure  high,  and  sure  dry.  You  bet  yuh! 
High  and  dry  and  roaring." 

"  Why  '  roaring '  ?  "  I  demanded  at  last.  The  word 
had  been  puzzling  me. 

"  Up  and  coming.  Pop  goes  the  weasel,  at  Benton. 
Benton?  Lord  love  you!  They  say  it's  got  Cheyenne 
and  Laramie  backed  up  a  tree,  the  best  days  they  ever 
seen.  When  you  step  off  at  Benton  step  lively  and 
keep  an  eye  in  the  back  of  your  head.  There's  money 
to  be  made  at  Benton,  by  the  wise  ones.  Watch  out 
for  ropers  and  if  you  get  onto  a  system,  play  it. 
There  ain't  any  limit  to  money  or  suckers." 

"  I  •  may  not  qualify  as  to  money,"  I  informed. 
"  But  I  trust  that  I  am  no  sucker." 

"  No  green  in  the  eye,  eh  ?  "  he  approved.  "  Any 
how,  you  have  a  good  lead  if  your  friend  in  black 
cottons  to  you."  Again  he  winked.  "  You're  not  a 
bad-looking  young  feller."  He  leaned  over  the  side 
steps,  and  gazed  ahead.  "  Sidney  in  sight.  Be  there 
directly.  We're  hitting  twenty  miles  and  better 
through  the  greatest  country  on  earth.  The  engineer 
smells  breakfast." 


CHAPTER  III 

I  RISE  IN  FAVOR 

WITH  that  he  went  forward.  So  did  I;  but  the 
barricade  at  the  end  of  My  Lady's  seat  was  intact, 
and  I  sat  down  in  my  own  seat,  to  keep  expectant 
eye  upon  her  profile — a  decided  relief  amidst  that 
crude  melange  of  people  in  various  stages  of  hasty 
dressing  after  a  night  of  cramped  postures. 

The  brakeman's  words,  although  mysterious  in 
part,  had  concluded  reassuringly.  My  Lady,  he  said, 
would  prove  a  valuable  friend  in  Benton.  A  friend 
at  hand  means  a  great  deal  to  any  young  man, 
stranger  in  a  strange  land. 

The  conductor  came  back — a  new  conductor; 
stooped  familiarly  over  the  barricade  and  evidently 
exchanged  pleasantries  with  her.  . 

"  Sidney !  Sidney !  Twenty  minutes  for  break 
fast  ! "  the  brakeman  bawled,  from  the  door. 

There  was  the  general  stir.  My  Lady  shot  a  glance 
at  me,  with  inviting  eyes,  but  arose  in  response  to  the 
proffered  arm  of  the  conductor,  and  I  was  late.  The 
aisle  filled  between  us  as  he  ushered  her  on  and  the 
train  slowed  to  grinding  of  brakes  and  the  tremendous 
clanging  of  a  gong. 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  37 

Of  Sidney  there  was  little  to  see:  merely  a  station- 
house  and  the  small  Railroad  Hotel,  with  a  handful 
of  other  buildings  forming  a  single  street — all  squat 
ting  here  near  a  rock  quarry  that  broke  the  expanse 
of  uninhabited  brown  plains.  The  air,  however,  was 
wonderfully  invigorating ;  the  meal  excellent,  as  usual ; 
and  when  I  emerged  from  the  dining-room,  following 
closely  a  black  figure  crowned  with  gold,  I  found  her 
strolling  alone  upon  the  platform. 

Therefore  I  caught  up  with  her.  She  faced  me 
with  ready  smile. 

"  You  are  rather  slow  in  action,  sir,"  she  lightly 
accused.  "We  might  have  breakfasted  together;  but 
it  was  the  conductor  again,  after  all." 

"  I  plead  guilty,  madam,"  I  admitted.  "  The  train 
men  have  an  advantage  over  me,  in  anticipating 
events.  But  the  next  meal  shall  be  my  privilege.  We 
stop  again  before  reaching  Benton?" 

"  For  dinner,  yes ;  at  Cheyenne." 

"  And  after  that  you  will  be  home." 

"  Home  ?  "  she  queried,  with  a  little  pucker  between 
her  brows. 

"  Yes.    At  Benton." 

"Of  course."  She  laughed  shortly.  "Benton  is 
now  home.  We  have  moved  so  frequently  that  I 
have  grown  to  call  almost  no  place  home." 

"  I  judge  then  that  you  are  connected,  as  may  hap 
pen,  with  a  flexible  business,"  I  hazarded.  "If  you 
are  in  the  army  I  can  understand." 


38  DESERT  DUST 

"  No,  I'm  not  an  army  woman ;  but  there  is  money 
in  following  the  railroad,  and  that  is  our  present  life," 
she  said  frankly.  "  A  town  springs  up,  you  know,  at 
each  terminus,  booms  as  long  as  the  freight  and  pas 
sengers  pile  up — and  all  of  a  sudden  the  go-ahead 
business  and  professional  men  pull  stakes  for  the 
next  terminus  as  soon  as  located.  That  has  been 
the  custom,  all  the  way  from  North  Platte  to  Ben- 
ton." 

"  Which  accounts  for  your  acquaintance  along  the 
line.  The  trainmen  seem  to  know  you." 

"  Trainmen  and  others ;  oh,  yes.  It  is  to  be  ex 
pected.  I  have  no  objections  to  that.  I  am  quite  able 
to  take  care  of  myself,  sir." 

We  were  interrupted.  A  near-drunken  rowdy 
(upon  whom  I  had  kept  an  uneasy  corner  of  an  eye) 
had  been  careening  over  the  platform,  a  whiskey  bot 
tle  protruding  from  the  hip  pocket  of  his  sagging 
jeans,  a  large  revolver  dangling  at  his  thigh,  his 
slouch  hat  cocked  rakishly  upon  his  tousled  head.  His 
language  was  extremely  offensive — he  had  an  ugly 
mood  on,  but  nobody  interfered.  The  crowd  stood 
aside — the  natives  laughing,  the  tourists  like  myself 
viewing  him  askance,  and  several  Indians  watching 
only  gravely. 

He  sighted  us,  and  staggered  in. 

"Howdy?"  he  uttered,  with  an  oath.  "Shay — 
hello,  stranger.  Have  a  smile.  Take  two,  one  for 
lady.  Hie !  "  And  he  thrust  his  bottle  at  me. 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  39 

My  Lady  drew  back.  I  civilly  declined  the 
"  smile." 

"  Thank  you.    I  do  not  drink." 

"  What?  "  He  stared  blearily.  His  tone  stiffened. 
"  The  hell  you  say.  Too  tony,  eh  ?  Too — 'ic !  Have 
a  smile,  I  ask  you,  one  gent  to  'nother.  Have  a  smile, 
you  (unmentionable)  pilgrim;  fer  if  you  don't " 

"  Train's  starting,  Jim,"  she  interposed  sharply. 
"If  you  want  to  get  aboard  you'd  better  hurry." 

The  engine  tooted,  the  bell  was  ringing,  the  pas 
sengers  were  hurrying,  incited  by  the  conductor's 
shout:  "All  'board!" 

Without  another  word  she  tripped  for  the  car  steps. 
I  gave  the  fellow  one  firm  look  as  he  stood  stupidly 
scratching  his  thatch  as  if  to  harrow  his  ideas;  and 
perforce  left  him.  By  the  cheers  he  undoubtedly 
made  in  the  same  direction.  I  was  barely  in  time 
myself.  The  train  moved  as  I  planted  foot  upon  the 
steps  of  the  nearest  car — the  foremost  of  the  two. 
The  train  continued;  halted  again  abruptly,  while 
cheers  rang  riotous;  and  when  I  crossed  the  passage 
way  between  this  car  and  ours  the  conductor  and 
brakeman  were  hauling  the  tipsy  Jim  into  safety. 

My  Lady  was  ensconced. 

"  Did  they  get  him  ?  "  she  inquired,  when  I  paused. 

"  By  the  scruff  of  the  neck.  The  drunken  fellow, 
you  mean." 

"Yes;  Jim." 

"You  know  him?" 


40  DESERT  DUST 

"  He's  from  Benton.  I  suppose  he's  been  down 
here  on  a  little  pasear,  as  they  say." 

"If  you  think  he'll  annoy  you ?"  I  made 

bold  to  suggest,  for  I  greatly  coveted  the  half  of  her 
seat. 

"  Oh,  I'm  not  afraid  of  Jim.  But  yes,  do  sit  down. 
You  can  put  these  things  back  in  your  seat.  Then  we 
can  talk." 

I  had  no  more  than  settled  triumphantly,  when  the 
brakeman  ambled  through,  his  face  in  a  broad  grin. 
He  also  paused,  to  perch  upon  the  seat  end,  his  arm 
extended  f  riendlily  along  the  back. 

"  Well,  we  got  him  corralled,"  he  proclaimed  need 
lessly.  "  That  t'rantular  juice  nigh  broke  his  neck  for 
him." 

"  Did  you  take  his  bottle  away,  Jerry  ? "  she 
asked. 

"  Sure  thing.  He'll  be  peaceable  directly.  Soused 
to  the  guards.  Reckon  he's  inclined  to  be  a  trifle  ugly 
when  he's  on  a  tear,  ain't  he?  They'd  shipped  him 
out  of  Benton  on  a  down  train.  Now  he's  going  back 
up." 

"He's  safe,  you  think?" 

"  Sewed  tight.  He'll  sleep  it  off  and  be  ready 
for  night."  The  brakeman  winked  at  her.  "  You 
needn't  fear.  He'll  be  on  deck,  right  side  up  with 
care." 

"  I've  told  this  gentleman  that  I'm  not  afraid,"  she 
answered  quickly. 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  41 

"  Of  course.  And  he  knows  what's  best  for  him, 
himself."  The  brakeman  slapped  me  on  the  shoulder 
and  good-naturedly  straightened.  "  So  does  this 
young  gentleman,  I  rather  suspicion.  I  can  see  his 
fortune's  made.  You  bet,  if  he  works  it  right.  I 
told  him  if  you  cottoned  to  him " 

"  Now  you're  talking  too  much,  Jerry,"  she  re 
proved.  "  The  gentleman  and  I  are  only  traveling  ac 
quaintances." 

"Yes,  ma'am.  To  Benton.  Let  'er  roar.  Chey 
enne's  the  closest  I  can  get,  myself,  and  Cheyenne's  a 
dead  one — blowed  up,  busted  worse'n  a  galvanized 
Yank  with  a  pocket  full  o'  Confed  wall-paper."  He 
yawned.  "  Guess  I'll  take  forty  winks.  Was  up  all 
night,  and  a  man  can  stand  jest  so  much,  Injuns  or 
no  Injuns." 

"  Did  you  expect  to  meet  with  Indians,  sir,  along 
the  route  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Hell,  yes.  Always  expect  to  meet  'em  between 
Kearney  and  Julesburg.  It's  about  time  they  were 
wrecking  another  train.  Well,  so  long.  Be  good  to 
each  other."  With  this  parting  piece  of  impertinence 
he  stumped  out. 

"A  friendly  individual,  evidently,"  I  hazarded,  to 
tide  her  over  her  possible  embarrassment. 

Her  laugh  assured  me  that  she  was  not  embarrassed 
at  all,  which  proved  her  good  sense  and  elevated  her 
even  farther  in  my  esteem. 

"  Oh,  Jerry's  all  right.    I  don't  mind  Jerry,  except 


42  DESERT  DUST 

that  his  tongue  is  hung  in  the  middle.  He  probably 
has  been  telling  you  some  tall  yarns  ?  " 

"  He  ?  No,  I  don't  think  so.  He  may  have  tried 
it,  but  his  Western  expressions  are  beyond  me  as  yet. 
In  fact,  what  he  was  driving  at  on  the  rear  platform 
I  haven't  the  slightest  idea." 

"  Driving  at?    In  what  way,  sir?  " 

"  He  referred  to  the  green  in  his  eye  and  in  the 
moon,  as  I  recall ;  and  to  a  mysterious  *  system ' ;  and 
gratuitously  offered  me  a  '  steer.'  " 

Her  face  hardened  remarkably,  so  that  her  chin  set 
as  if  tautened  by  iron  bands.  Those  eyes  glinted  with 
real  menace. 

"  He  did,  did  he?  Along  that  line  of  talk!  The 
clapper-jaw!  He's  altogether  too  free."  She  sur 
veyed  me  keenly.  "And  naturally  you  couldn't  un 
derstand  such  lingo." 

"  I  was  not  curious  enough  to  try,  my  dear  madam. 
He  talked  rather  at  random;  likely  enjoyed  bantering 
me.  But,"  I  hastily  placated  in  his  behalf,  "  he  recom 
mended  Benton  as  a  lively  place,  and  you  as  a  friend 
of  value  in  case  that  you  honored  me  with  your  pat 
ronage." 

"  My  patronage,  for  you  ?  "  she  exclaimed.  "  In 
deed?  To  what  extent?  Are  you  going  into  busi 
ness,  too?  As  one  of — us?  " 

"  If  I  should  become  a  Bentonite,  as  I  hope,"  I  gal 
lantly  replied,  "  then  of  course  I  should  look  to  per 
manent  investment  of  some  nature.  And  before  my 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  43 

traveling  funds  run  out  I  shall  be  glad  of  light  em 
ployment.  The  brakeman  gave  me  to  understand 
merely  that  by  your  kindly  interest  you  might  be  dis 
posed  to  assist  me." 

"  Oh !  "  Her  face  lightened.  "  I  dare  say  Jerry 
means  well.  But  when  you  spoke  of  *  patron 
age  ' That  is  a  current  term  of  certain  import 

along  the  railroad."  She  leaned  to  me;  a  glow  ema 
nated  from  her.  "  Tell  me  of  yourself.  You  have  red 
blood?  Do  you  ever  game?  For  if  you  are  not 
afraid  to  test  your  luck  and  back  it,  there  is  money  to 
be  made  very  easily  at  Benton,  and  in  a  genteel  way." 
She  smiled  bewitchingly.  "  Or  are  you  a  Quaker,  to 
whom  life  is  deadly  serious  ?  " 

"  No  Quaker,  madam."  How  could  I  respond 
otherwise  to  that  pair  of  dancing  blue  eyes,  to  that 
pair  of  derisive  lips?  "As  for  gaming — if  you  mean 
cards,  why,  I  have  played  at  piquet  and  romp,  in  a 
social  way,  for  small  stakes;  and  my  father  brought 
Old  Sledge  back  from  the  army,  to  the  family  table." 

"  You  are  lucky.    I  can  see  it,"  she  alleged. 

"  I  am,  on  this  journey,"  I  asserted. 

She  blushed. 

"  Well  said,  sir.  And  if  you  choose  to  make  use  of 
your  luck,  in  Benton,  by  all  means " 

Whether  she  would  have  shaped  her  import  clearly 
I  did  not  know.  There  was  a  commotion  in  the  for 
ward  part  of  the  car.  That  same  drunken  wretch 
Jim  had  appeared;  his  bottle  (somehow  restored  to 


44  DESERT  DUST 

him)  in  hand,  his  hat  pushed  back  from  his  flushed 
greasy  forehead. 

"  Have  a  smile,  ladies  an'  gents,"  he  was  bellowing 
thickly.  "  Hooray !  Have  a  smile  on  me.  Great  an' 
gloryus  'casion — 'ic!  Ever'body  smile.  Drink  to 
op'nin'  gloryus  Pac'fic — 'ic — Railway.  Thash  it. 
Hooray ! "  Thus  he  came  reeling  down  the  aisle, 
thrusting  his  bottle  right  and  left,  to  be  denied  with 
shrinkings  or  with  bluff  excuses. 

It  seemed  inevitable  that  he  should  reach  us.  I 
heard  My  Lady  utter  a  little  gasp,  as  she  sat  more 
erect;  and  here  he  was,  espying  us  readily  enough 
with  that  uncanny  precision  of  a  drunken  man,  his 
bottle  to  the  fore. 

"  Have  a  smile,  you  two.  Wouldn't  smile  at  sta 
tion;  gotto  smile  now.  Yep.  'Ic!  'Ray  for  Benton! 
All  goin'  to  Benton.  Lesh  be  good  fellers." 

"  You  go  back  to  your  seat,  Jim,"  she  ordered 
tensely.  "  Go  back,  if  you  know  what's  good  for 
you." 

"  Whash  that?  Who  your  dog  last  year?  Shay! 
You  can't  come  no  highty-tighty  over  me.  Who  your 
new  friend  ?  Shay ! "  He  reeled  and  gripped  the 
seat,  flooding  me  with  his  vile  breath.  "  By  Gawd, 

I  got  the  dead-wood  on  you,  you ! "  and  he  had 

loosed  such  a  torrent  of  low  epithets  that  they  are 
inconceivable. 

"For  that  I'd  kill  you  in  any  other  place,  Jim," 
she  said.  "  You  know  I'm  not  afraid  of  you.  Now 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  45 

get,  you  wolf ! "  Her  voice  snapped  like  a  whip-lash 
at  the  close ;  she  had  made  sudden  movement  of  hand 
— it  was  extended  and  I  saw  almost  under  my  nose 
the  smallest  pistol  imaginable ;  nickeled,  of  two  barrels, 
and  not  above  three  inches  long;  projecting  from  her 
palm,  the  twin  hammers  cocked;  and  it  was  as  steady 
as  a  die. 

Assuredly  My  Lady  did  know  how  to  take  care  of 
herself.  Still,  that  was  not  necessary  now. 

"No!"  I  warned.  "No  matter.  I'll  tend  to 
him." 

The  fellow's  face  had  convulsed  with  a  snarl  of 
redder  rage,  his  mouth  opened  as  if  for  fresh  abuse — 
and  half  rising  I  landed  upon  it  with  my  fist. 

"  Go  where  you  belong,  you  drunken  whelp !  " 

I  had  struck  and  spoken  at  the  same  time,  with  a 
rush  of  wrath  that  surprised  me;  and  the  result  sur 
prised  me  more,  for  while  I  was  not  conscious  of  hav 
ing  exerted  much  force  he  toppled  backward  clear 
across  the  aisle,  crashed  down  in  a  heap  under  the  op 
posite  seat.  His  bottle  shattered  against  the  ceiling. 
The  whiskey  spattered  in  a  sickening  shower  over  the 
alarmed  passengers. 

"  Look  out !  Look  out ! "  she  cried,  starting 
quickly.  Up  he  scrambled,  cursing,  and  wrenching  at 
his  revolver.  I  sprang  to  smother  him,  but  there  was 
a  flurry,  a  chorus  of  shouts,  men  leaped  between  us, 
the  brakeman  and  conductor  both  had  arrived,  in  a 
jiffy  he  was  being  hustled  forward,  swearing  and 


46  DESERT  DUST 

blubbering.  And  I  sank  back,  breathless,  a  degree 
ashamed,  a  degree  rather  satisfied  with  my  action  and 
my  barked  knuckles. 

Congratulations  echoed  dully. 

"The  right  spirit!" 

"  That'll  1'arn  him  to  insult  a  lady." 

"  You  sartinly  rattled  him  up,  stranger.  Squar'  on 
the  twitter ! " 

"  Shake,  Mister." 

"  For  a  pilgrim  you're  consider'ble  of  a  hoss." 

"If  he'd  drawn  you'd  have  give  him  a  pill,  I  reckon, 
lady.  I  know  yore  kind.  But  he  won't  bother  you 
ag'in ;  not  he." 

"  Oh,  what  a  terrible  scene !  " 

To  all  this  I  paid  scant  attention.  I  heard  her,  as 
she  sat  composedly,  scarcely  panting.  The  little  pis 
tol  had  disappeared. 

"  The  play  has  been  made,  ladies  and  gentlemen," 
she  said.  And  to  me:  "Thank  you.  Yes,"  she  con 
tinued,  with  a  flash  of  lucent  eyes  and  a  dimpling 
smile,  "  Jim  has  lost  his  whiskey  and  has  a  chance  to 
sober  up.  He'll  have  forgotten  all  about  this  before 
we  reach  Benton.  But  I  thank  you  for  your  prompt 
ness." 

"  I  didn't  want  you  to  shoot  him,"  I  stammered. 
"  I  was  quite  able  to  tend  to  him  myself.  Your  pis 
tol  is  loaded  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  it  is."  And  she  laughed  gaily.  Her 
Jips  tightened,  her  eyes  darkened.  "  And  I'd  kill  him 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  47 

like  a  dog  if  he  presumed  farther.  In  this  country  we 
women  protect  ourselves  from  insult.  I  always  carry 
my  derringer,  sir." 

The  brakeman  returned  with  a  broom,  to  sweep  up 
the  chips  of  broken  bottle.  He  grinned  at  us. 

"  There's  no  wind  in  him  now,"  he  communicated. 
"  Peaceful  as  a  baby.  We  took  his  gun  off  him.  I'll 
pass  the  word  ahead  to  keep  him  safe,  on  from  Chey 
enne." 

"  Please  do,  Jerry,"  she  bade.  "  I'd  prefer  to  have 
no  more  trouble  with  him,  for  he  might  not  come  out 
so  easily  next  time.  He  knows  that." 

"  Surely  ought  to,  by  golly,"  the  brakeman  agreed 
roundly.  "  And  he  ought  to  know  you  go  heeled. 
But  that  there  tanglefoot  went  to  his  head.  Looks 
now  as  if  he'd  been  kicked  in  the  face  by  a  mule. 
Haw  haw!  No  offense,  friend.  You  got  me  plumb 
buffaloed  with  that  fivespot  o'  yourn."  And  finishing 
his  job  he  retired  with  dust-pan  and  broom. 

"  You're  going  to  do  well  in  Benton,"  she  said  sud 
denly,  to  me,  with  a  nod.  "  I  regret  this  scene — I 
couldn't  help  it,  though,  of  course.  When  Jim's  sober 
he  has  sense,  and  never  tries  to  be  familiar." 

She  was  amazingly  cool  under  the  epithets  that  he 
had  applied.  I  admired  her  for  that  as  she  gazed  at 
me  pleadingly. 

"  A  drunken  man  is  not  responsible  for  words  or 
actions,  although  he  should  be  made  so,"  I  consoled 
her.  "  Possibly  I  should  not  have  struck  him.  In  the 


48  DESERT  DUST 

Far  West  you  may  be  more  accustomed  to  these  epi 
sodes  than  we  are  in  the  East." 

"  I  don't  know.  There  is  a  limit.  You  did  right. 
I  thank  you  heartily.  Still  " — and  she  mused — "  you 
can't  always  depend  on  your  fists  alone.  You  carry 
no  weapon,  neither  knife  nor  gun  ?  " 

"  I  never  have  needed  either,"  said  I.  "  My  teach 
ing  has  been  that  a  man  should  be  able  to  rely  upon 
his  fists." 

"  Then  you'd  better  get  '  heeled,'  as  we  say,  when 
you  reach  Benton.  Fists  are  a  short-range  weapon. 
The  men  generally  wear  a  gun  somewhere.  It  is  the 
custom." 

"  And  the  women,  too,  if  I  may  judge,"  I  smiled. 

"  Some  of  us.  Yes,"  she  repeated,  "  you're  likely 
to  do  well,  out  here,  if  you'll  permit  me  to  advise  you 
a  little." 

"  Under  your  tutelage  I  am  sure  I  shall  do  well," 
I  accepted.  "  I  may  call  upon  you  in  Benton?  If  you 
will  favor  me  with  your  address ?  " 

"  My  address?  "  She  searched  my  face  in  manner 
startled.  "  You'll  have  no  difficulty  finding  me ;  not 
in  Benton.  But  I'll  make  an  appointment  with  you  in 
event  " — and  she  smiled  archly — "  you  are  not  afraid 
of  strange  women." 

"  I  have  been  taught  to  respect  women,  madam," 
said  I.  "  And  my  respect  is  being  strengthened." 

"  Oh !  "  I  seemed  to  have  pleased  her.  "  You  have 
been  carefully  brought  up,  sir." 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  49 

"  To  fear  God,  respect  woman,  and  act  the  man  as 
long  as  I  breathe,"  I  asserted.  "  My  mother  is  a 
saint,  my  father  a  nobleman,  and  what  I  may  have 
learned  from  them  is  to  their  credit." 

"  That  may  go  excellently  in  the  East,"  she  an 
swered.  "  But  we  in  the  West  favor  the  Persian 
maxim — to  ride,  to  shoot,  and  to  tell  the  truth.  With 
those  three  qualities  even  a  tenderfoot  can  establish 
himself." 

"  Whether  I  can  ride  and  shoot  sufficient  for  the 
purpose,  time  will  show,"  I  retorted.  "At  least,"  and 
I  endeavored  to  speak  with  proper  emphasis,  "  you 
hear  the  truth  when  I  say  that  I  anticipate  much  pleas 
ure  as  well  as  renewed  health,  in  Benton." 

"  Were  we  by  ourselves  we  would  seal  the  future 
in  another  '  smile '  together,"  she  slyly  promised. 
"  Unless  that  might  shock  you." 

"  I  am  ready  to  fall  in  with  the  customs  of  the 
country,"  I  assured.  "  I  certainly  am  not  averse  to 
smiles,  when  fittingly  proffered." 

So  we  exchanged  fancies  while  the  train  rolled  over 
a  track  remarkable  for  its  smoothness  and  leading 
ever  onward  across  the  vast,  empty  plains  bare  save 
for  the  low  shrubs  called  sage-brush,  and  rising  here 
and  there  into  long  swells  and  abrupt  sandstone  pin 
nacles. 

We  stopped  near  noon  at  the  town  of  Cheyenne,  in 
Wyoming  Territory.  Cheyenne,  once  boasting  the 
title  (I  was  told)  "The  Magic  City  of  the  Plains," 


50  DESERT  DUST 

was  located  upon  a  dreary  flatness,  although  from  it 
one  might  see,  far  southwest,  the  actual  Rocky  Moun 
tains  in  Colorado  Territory,  looking,  at  this  distance 
of  one  hundred  miles,  like  low  dark  clouds.  The  up 
grade  in  the  west  promised  that  we  should  soon  cross 
over  their  northern  flanks,  of  the  Black  Hills. 

Last  winter,  Cheyenne,  I  was  given  to  understand, 
had  ten  thousand  inhabitants;  but  the  majority  had 
followed  the  railroad  west,  so  that  now  there  re 
mained  only  some  fifteen  hundred.  After  dinner  we, 
too,  went  west. 

We  overcame  the  Black  Hills  Mountains  about  two 
o'clock,  having  climbed  to  the  top  with  considerable 
puffing  of  the  engine  but  otherwise  almost  impercep 
tibly  to  the  passengers.  When  we  were  halted,  upon 
the  crown,  at  Sherman  Station,  to  permit  us  to  alight 
and  see  for  ourselves,  I  scarcely  might  believe  that  we 
were  more  than  eight  thousand  feet  in  air.  There  was 
nothing  to  indicate,  except  some  little  difficulty  of 
breath;  not  so  much  as  I  had  feared  when  in  Chey 
enne,  whose  six  thousand  feet  gave  me  a  slightly 
giddy  sensation. 

My  Lady  moved  freely,  being  accustomed  to  the 
rarity;  and  she  assured  me  that  although  Benton  was 
seven  thousand  feet  I  would  soon  grow  wonted  to  the 
atmosphere.  The  habitues  of  this  country  made  light 
of  the  spot;  the  strangers  on  tour  picked  flowers  and 
gathered  rocks  as  mementoes  of  the  "  Crest  of  the 
Continent " — which  was  not  a  crest  but  rather  a  level 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  51 

plateau,  wind-swept  and  chilly  while  sunny.  Then 
from  this  Sherman  Summit  of  the  Black  Hills  of 
Wyoming  the  train  swept  down  by  its  own  momen 
tum  from  gravity,  for  the  farther  side. 

The  fellow  Jim  had  not  emerged,  as  yet,  much  to 
my  relief.  The  scenery  was  increasing  in  grandeur 
and  interest,  and  the  play  of  my  charming  compan 
ion  would  have  transformed  the  most  prosaic  of  jour 
neys  into  a  trip  through  Paradise. 

I  hardly  noted  the  town  named  Laramie  City,  at  the 
western  base  of  the  Black  Hills;  and  was  indeed  an 
noyed  by  the  vendors  hawking  what  they  termed 
"  mountain  gems  "  through  the  train.  Laramie,  ac 
cording  to  My  Lady,  also  once  had  been,  as  she  styled 
it,  "  a  live  town,"  but  had  deceased  in  favor  of  Ben- 
ton.  From  Laramie  we  whirled  northwest,  through  a 
broad  valley  enlivened  by  countless  antelope  scouring 
over  the  grasses;  thence  we  issued  into  a  wilder, 
rougher  country,  skirting  more  mountains  very 
gloomy  in  aspect. 

However,  of  the  panorama  outside  I  took  but  casual 
glances;  the  phenomenon  of  blue  and  gold  so  close 
at  hand  was  all  engrossing,  and  my  heart  beat  high 
with  youth  and  romance.  Our  passage  was  astonish 
ingly  short,  but  the  sun  was  near  to  setting  beyond 
distant  peaks  when  by  the  landmarks  that  she  knew 
we  were  approaching  Benton  at  last. 

We  crossed  a  river — the  Platte,  again,  even  away 
in  here ;  briefly  paused  at  a  military  post,  and  entered 


52  DESERT  DUST  ' 

upon  a  stretch  of  sun-baked,  reddish- white,  dusty  des 
ert  utterly  devoid  of  vegetation. 

There  was  a  significant  bustle  in  the  car,  among 
the  travel-worn  occupants.  The  air  was  choking  with, 
the  dust  swirled  through  every  crevice  by  the  stir  of 
the  wheels — already  mobile  as  it  was  from  the  efforts 
of  the  teams  that  we  passed,  of  six  and  eight 
horses  tugging  heavy  wagons.  Plainly  we  were 
within  striking  distance  of  some  focus  of  human 
energies. 

"  Benton !  Benton  in  five  minutes.  End  o'  track," 
the  brakeman  shouted. 

"  My  valise,  please." 

I  brought  it.  The  conductor,  who  like  the  other 
officials  knew  My  Lady,  pushed  through  to  us  and 
laid  hand  upon  it. 

"  I'll  see  you  out,"  he  announced.    "  Come  ahead." 

"  Pardon.  That  shall  be  my  privilege,"  I  inter 
posed.  But  she  quickly  denied. 

"  No,  please.  The  conductor  is  an  old  friend.  I 
shall  need  no  other  help — I'm  perfectly  at  home. 
You  can  look  out  for  yourself." 

"But  I  shall  see  you  again — and  where?  I  don't 
know  your  address ;  fact  is,  I'm  even  ignorant  of  your 
name,"  I  pleaded  desperately. 

"  How  stupid  of  me."  And  she  spoke  fast  and 
low,  over  her  shoulder.  "  To-night,  then,  at  the  Big 
Tent.  Remember." 

I  pressed  after. 


I  RISE  IN  FAVOR  53 

"The  Big  Tent!  Shall  I  inquire  there?  And  for 
whom  ?  " 

"  You'll  not  fail  to  see  me.  Everybody  knows  the 
Big  Tent,  everybody  goes  there.  So  au  revoir." 

She  was  swallowed  in  the  wake  of  the  conductor, 
and  I  fain  must  gather  my  own  belongings  before  fol 
lowing.  The  Big  Tent,  she  said?  I  had  not  misun 
derstood;  and  I  puzzled  over  the  address,  which  im 
pinged  as  rather  bizarre,  whether  in  West  or  East. 

We  stopped  with  a  jerk,  amidst  a  babel  of  cries. 

"  Benton !  All  out !  "  Out  we  stumbled.  Here  I 
was,  at  rainbow's  end. 


CHAPTER  IV 

I   MEET   FRIENDS 

WHAT  shall  I  say  of  a  young  man  like  myself,  fresh 
from  the  green  East  of  New  York  and  the  Hudson 
River,  landed  expectant  as  just  aroused  from  a  dream 
of  rare  beauty,  at  this  Benton  City,  Wyoming  Terri 
tory?  The  dust,  as  fine  as  powder  and  as  white,  but 
shot  through  with  the  crimson  of  sunset,  hung  like  a 
fog,  amidst  which  swelled  a  deafening  clamor  from 
figures  rushing  hither  and  thither  about  the  platform 
like  half-world  shades.  A  score  of  voices  dinned  into 
my  ears  as  two  score  hands  grabbed  at  my  valise  and 
shoved  me  and  dragged  me. 

"  The  Desert  Hotel.  Best  in  the  West.  This  way, 
sir." 

"Buffalo  Hump  Corral!  The  Buffalo  Hump! 
Free  drinks  at  the  Buffalo  Hump." 

"  Vamos,  all  o'  you.  Leave  the  gent  to  me.  I've 
had  him  before.  Mike's  Place  for  you,  eh?  Come 
along." 

"  The  Widow's  Cafe !  That's  yore  grub  pile,  gent. 
All  you  can  eat  for  two  bits." 

A  deep  voice  boomed,  stunning  me. 

"  The  Queen,  the  Queen !     Bath  for  every  room. 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  55 

Individual  towels.  The  Queen,  the  Queen,  she's 
clean,  she's  clean." 

It  was  a  magnificent  bass,  full  toned  as  an  organ, 
issuing,  likewise  as  out  of  a  reed,  from  a  swart  dwarf 
scarcely  higher  than  my  waist.  The  word  "  bath," 
with  the  promise  of  "  individual  towels,"  won  me 
over.  Something  must  be  done,  anyway,  to  get  rid 
of  these  importunate  runners.  Thereupon  I  ac 
quiesced,  "  All  right,  my  man.  The  Queen,"  and  sur 
rendering  my  bag  to  his  hairy  paw  I  trudged  by  his 
guidance.  The  solicitations  instantly  ceased  as  if  in 
agreement  with  some  code. 

We  left  the  station  platform  and  went  ploughing 
up  a  street  over  shoetops  with  the  impalpable  dust 
and  denoted  by  tents  and  white-coated  shacks  sparsely 
bordering.  The  air  was  breezeless  and  suffocatingly 
loaded  with  that  dust  not  yet  deposited.  The  noises 
as  from  a  great  city  swelled  strident:  shouts,  ham 
merings,  laughter,  rumble  of  vehicles,  cracking  of 
lashes,  barkings  of  dogs  innumerable — betokening  a 
thriving  mart  of  industry.  But  although  pedestrians 
streamed  to  and  fro,  the  men  in  motley  of  complex 
ions  and  costumes,  the  women,  some  of  them  fashion 
ably  dressed,  with  skirts  eddying  furiously;  and 
wagons  rolled,  horses  cantered,  and  from  right  and 
left  merchants  and  hawksters  seemed  to  be  calling 
their  wares,  of  city  itself  I  could  see  only  the  veriest 
husk. 

The  majority  of  the  buildings  were  mere  canvas — 


56  DESERT  DUST 

faced  up  for  a  few  feet,  perhaps,  with  sheet  iron  or 
flimsy  boards;  interspersed  there  were  a  few  wooden 
structures,  rough  and  unpainted;  and  whereas  several 
of  the  housings  were  large,  none  was  more  than  two 
stories — and  when  now  and  again  I  thought  that  I 
had  glimpsed  a  substantial  stone  front  a  closer  inspec 
tion  told  me  that  the  stones  were  imitation,  forming  a 
veneer  of  the  sheet  iron  or  of  stenciled  pine.  Indeed, 
not  a  few  of  the  upper  stories,  viewed  from  an  un 
favorable  angle,  proved  to  be  only  thin  parapets  up 
standing  for  a  pretense  of  well-being.  Behind  them, 
nothing  at  all! 

In  the  confusion  of  that  which  I  took  to  be  the  main 
street  because  of  the  stores  and  piles  of  goods  and  the 
medley  of  signs,  what  with  the  hubbub  from  the  many 
barkers  for  saloons  and  gambling  games,  the  constant 
dodging  among  the  pedestrians,  vehicles  and  horses 
and. dogs,  in  a  thoroughfare  that  was  innocent  of 
sidewalk,  I  really  had  scant  opportunity  to  gaze;  cer 
tainly  no  opportunity  as  yet  to  get  my  bearings.  My 
squat  guide  shuttled  aside;  a  group  of  loafers  gave  us 
passage,  with  sundry  stares  at  me  and  quips  for  him ; 
and  I  was  ushered  into  a  widely-open  tent-building 
whose  canvas  sign  depending  above  a  narrow  veranda 
declared:  "The  Queen  Hotel.  Beds  $3.  Meals  $1 
each." 

Now  as  whitely  powdered  as  any  of  the  natives  I 
stumbled  across  a  single  large  room  bordered  at  one 
side  by  a  bar  and  a  number  of  small  tables  (all  well 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  57 

patronized),  and  was  brought  up  at  the  counter,  under 
the  alert  eyes  of  a  clerk  coatless,  silk-shirted,  diamond- 
scarfed,  pomaded  and  slick-haired,  waiting  with  reg 
ister  turned  and  pen  extended. 

My  gnome  heavily  dropped  my  bag. 

"  Gent  for  you,"  he  presented. 

"  I  wish  a  room  and  bath,"  I  said,  as  I  signed. 

"  Bath  is  occupied.  I'll  put  you  down,  Mr. " 

and  he  glanced  at  the  signature.  "  Four  dollars  and 
four  bits,  please.  Show  the  gentleman  to  Number 
Six,  Shorty.  That  drummer's  gone,  isn't  he  ?  " 

"  You  bet." 

"  The  bath  is  occupied  ?  "  I  expostulated.  "  How 
so  ?  I  wish  a  private  bath." 

"  Private  ?  Yes,  sir.  All  you've  got  to  do  is  to 
close  the  door  while  you're  in.  Nobody'll  disturb  you. 
But  there  are  parties  ahead  of  you.  First  come,  first 
served." 

I  persisted. 

"  Your  runner — this  gentleman,  if  I  am  not  mis 
taken  (and  I  indicated  the  gnome,  who  grinned  from 
dusty  face),  distinctly  said  'A  bath  for  every 
room/ ' 

Bystanders  had  pushed  nearer,  to  examine  the  reg 
ister  and  then  me.  They  laughed — nudged  one  an 
other.  Evidently  I  had  a  trace  of  green  in  my 
eye. 

"  Quite  right,  sir,"  the  clerk  assented.  "  So  there 
is.  A  bath  for  every  room  and  the  best  bath  in  town. 


58  DESERT  DUST 

Entirely  private ;  fresh  towel  supplied.  Only  one  dol 
lar  and  four  bits.  That,  with  lodging,  makes  four 
dollars  and  a  half.  If  you  please,  sir." 

"  In  advance  ? "  I  remonstrated — the  bath  charge 
alone  being  monstrous. 

"  I  see  you're  from  the  East.  Yes,  sir;  we  have 
to  charge  transients  in  advance.  That  is  the  rule,  sir. 
You  stay  in  Benton  City  for  some  time  ?  " 

"  I  am  undetermined." 

"  Of  course,  sir.  Your  own  affair.  Yes,  sir.  But 
we  shall  hope  to  make  Benton  pleasant  for  you.  The 
greatest  city  in  the  West.  Anything  you  want  for 
pleasure  or  business  you'll  find  right  here." 

"  The  greatest  city  in  the  West — pleasure  or  busi 
ness  ! "  A  bitter  wave  of  homesickness  welled  into 
my  throat  as,  conscious  of  the  enveloping  dust,  the 
utter  shams,  the  tawdriness,  the  alien  unsympathetic 
onlookers,  the  suave  but  incisive  manner  of  the  clerk, 
the  sense  of  having  been  "  done  "  and  through  my  own 
fault,  I  peeled  a  greenback  from  the  folded  packet  in 
my  purse  and  handed  it  over.  Rather  foolishly  I  in 
tended  that  this  display  of  funds  should  rebuke  the 
finicky  clerk;  but  he  accepted  without  comment  and 
sought  for  the  change  from  the  twenty. 

"And  how  is  old  New  York,  suh  ?  " 

A  hearty,  florid,  heavy-faced  man,  with  singularly 
protruding  fishy  eyes  and  a  tobacco-stained  yellowish 
goatee  underneath  a  loosely  dropping  lower  lip,  had 
stepped  forward,  his  pudgy  hand  hospitably  out- 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  59 

stretched  to  me:  a  man  in  wide-brimmed  dusty  black 
hat,  frayed  and  dusty  but,  in  spots,  shiny,  black  broad 
cloth  frock  coat  spattered  down  the  lapels,  exceed 
ingly  soiled  collar  and  shirt  front  and  greasy  flowing 
tie,  and  trousers  tucked  into  cowhide  boots. 

I  grasped  the  hand  wonderingly.  It  enclosed  mine 
with  a  soft  pulpy  squeeze ;  and  lingered. 

"As  usual,  when  I  last  saw  it,  sir,"  I  responded. 
"  But  I  am  from  Albany." 

"  Of  course.  Albany,  the  capital,  a  city  to  be 
proud  of,  suh.  I  welcome  you,  suh,  to  our  new  West, 
as  a  fellow-citizen." 

"  You  are  from  Albany  ?  "  I  exclaimed. 

"  Bohn  and  raised  right  near  there ;  been  there 
many  a  time.  Yes,  suh.  From  the  grand  old  Em 
pire  State,  like  yourself,  suh,  and  without  apologies. 
Whenever  I  meet  with  a  New  York  State  man  I  cot 
ton  to  him." 

"Have  I  your  name,  sir?"  I  inquired.  "You 
know  of  my  family,  perhaps." 

"  Colonel  Jacob  B.  Sunderson,  suh,  at  your  service. 
Your  family  name  is  familiar  to  me,  suh.  I  hark 
back  to  it  and  to  the  grand  old  State  with  pleasure. 
Doubtless  I  have  seen  you  befoh,  sur.  Doubtless  in  the 
City — at  Johnny  Chamberlain's?  Yes?"  His  fishy 
eyes  beamed  upon  me,  and  his  breath  smelled  strongly 
of  liquor.  "  Or  the  Astor?  I  shall  remember.  Mean 
while,  suh,  permit  me  to  do  the  honors.  First,  will 
you  have  a  drink?  This  way,  suh.  I  am  partial  to 


60  DESERT  DUST 

a  brand  particularly  to  be  recommended  for  clearing 
this  damnable  dust  from  one's  throat." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  but  I  prefer  to  tidy  my  person, 
first,"  I  suggested. 

"  Number  Six  for  the  gentleman,"  announced  the 
clerk,  returning  to  me  my  change  from  the  bill.  I 
stuffed  it  into  my  pocket — the  Colonel's  singular  eyes 
followed  it  with  uncomfortable  interest.  The  gnome 
picked  up  my  bag,  but  was  interrupted  by  my  new 
friend. 

"  The  privilege  of  showing  the  gentleman  to  his 
quarters  and  putting  him  at  home  shall  be  mine." 

"All  right,  Colonel,"  the  clerk  carelessly  consented. 
"  Number  Six." 

"And  my  trunk.  I  have  a  trunk  at  the  depot,"  I 
informed. 

"  The  boy  will  tend  to  it." 

I  gave  the  gnome  my  check. 

"  And  my  bath  ?  "  I  pursued. 

"  You  will  be  notified,  sir.  There  are  only  five 
ahead  of  you,  and  one  gentleman  now  in.  Your  turn 
will  come  in  about  two  hours." 

"  This  way,  suh.  Kindly  follow  me,"  bade  the 
Colonel.  As  he  strode  before,  slightly  listed  by  the 
weight  of  the  bag  in  his  left  hand,  I  remarked  a  pe 
culiar  bulge  elevating  the  portly  contour  of  his  right 
coat-skirt. 

We  ascended  a  flight  of  rude  stairs  which  quivered 
to  our  tread,  proceeded  down  a  canvas-lined  corridor 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  61 

set  at  regular  intervals  on  either  hand  with  numbered 
deal  doors,  some  open  to  reveal  disorderly  interiors; 
and  with  "  Here  you  are,  suh,"  I  was  importantly 
bowed  into  Number  Six. 

We  were  not  to  be  alone.  There  were  three  double 
beds:  one  well  rumpled  as  if  just  vacated;  one  (the 
middle)  tenanted  by  a  frowsy  headed,  whiskered  man 
asleep  in  shirt-sleeves  and  revolver  and  boots;  the 
third,  at  the  other  end,  recently  made  up  by  having  its 
blanket  covering  hastily  thrown  against  a  distinctly 
dirty  pillow. 

"  Your  bed  yonduh,  suh,  I  reckon,"  prompted  the 
Colonel  (whose  accents  did  not  smack  of  New  York 
at  all),  depositing  my  bag  with  a  grunt  of  relief. 
"  Now,  suh,  as  you  say,  you  desire  to  freshen  the 
outer  man  after  your  journey.  With  your  permis 
sion  I  will  await  your  pleasure,  suh;  and  your  toilet 
being  completed  we  will  freshen  the  inner  man  also 
with  a  glass  or  two  of  rare  good  likker." 

I  gazed  about,  sickened.  Item,  three  beds;  item, 
one  kitchen  chair;  item,  one  unpainted  board  wash- 
stand,  supporting  a  tin  basin,  a  cake  of  soap,  a  tin 
ewer,  with  a  dingy  towel  hanging  from  a  nail  under 
a  cracked  mirror  and  over  a  tin  slop-bucket;  item, 
three  spittoons,  one  beside  each  bed;  item,  a  row  of 
nails  in  a  wooden  strip,  plainly  for  wardrobe  pur 
poses;  item,  one  window,  with  broken  pane. 

The  board  floor  was  bare  and  creaky,  the  partition 
walls  were  of  once-white,  stained  muslin  through 


62  DESERT  DUST 

which  sifted  unrebuked  a  mixture  of  sounds  not  thor 
oughly  agreeable. 

The  Colonel  had  seated  himself  upon  a  bed;  the 
bulge  underneath  his  skirts  jutted  more  pronouncedly, 
and  had  the  outlines  of  a  revolver  butt. 

"  But  surely  I  can  get  a  room  to  myself,"  I  stam 
mered.  "  The  clerk  mistakes  me.  This  won't  do  at 
all." 

"  You  are  having  the  best  in  the  house,  suh,"  as 
serted  the  Colonel,  with  expansive  wave  of  his  thick 
hand.  He  spat  accurately  into  the  convenient  spit 
toon.  "  It  is  a  front  room,  suh.  Number  Six  is 
known  as  very  choice,  and  I  congratulate  you,  suh.  I 
myself  will  see  to  it  that  you  shall  have  your  bed  to 
yourself,  if  you  entertain  objections  to  doubling  up. 
We  are,  suh,  a  trifle  crowded  in  Benton  City,  just  at 
present,  owing  to  the  unprecedented  influx  of  new 
citizens.  You  must  remember,  suh,  that  we  are  less 
than  one  month  old,  and  we  are  accommodating  from 
three  to  five  thousand  people." 

"  Is  this  the  best  hotel?  "  I  demanded. 

"  It  is  so  reckoned,  suh.  There  are  other  hostel- 
ries,  and  I  do  not  desire,  suh,  to  draw  invidious  com 
parisons,  their  proprietors  being  friends  of  mine. 
But  I  will  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  the  Queen  caters 
only  to  the  elite,  suh,  and  its  patronage  is  gilt 
edge." 

I  stepped  to  the  window,  the  lower  sash  of  which 
was  up,  and  gazed  out — down  into  that  dust- fogged, 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  63 

noisy,  turbulent  main  street,  of  floury  human  beings 
and  grime-smeared  beasts  almost  within  touch,  boil 
ing  about  through  the  narrow  lane  between  the  pla 
carded  makeshift  structures.  I  lifted  my  smarting 
eyes,  and  across  the  hot  sheet-iron  roofs  I  saw  the 
country  south — a  white-blotched  reddish  desert 
stretching  on,  desolate,  lifeless  under  the  sunset,  to  a 
range  of  stark  hills  black  against  the  glow. 

"There  are  no  private  rooms,  then?"  I  asked, 
choking  with  a  gulp  of  despair. 

"You  are  perfectly  private  right  here,  suh,"  as 
sured  the  Colonel.  "  You  may  strip  to  the  hide  or 
you  may  sleep  with  your  boots  on,  and  no  questions 
asked.  Gener'ly  speaking,  gentlemen  prefer  to  retain 
a  layer  of  artificial  covering — but  you  ain't  troubled 
much  with  the  bugs,  are  you,  Bill  ?  " 

He  leveled  this  query  at  the  frowsy,  whiskered 
man,  who  had  awakened  and  was  blinking  content 
edly. 

"  I'm  too  alkalied,  I  reckon,"  Bill  responded. 
"  Varmints  will  leave  me  any  time  when  there's  fresh 
bait  handy.  That's  why  I  likes  to  double  up.  That 
there  Saint  Louee  drummer  carried  off  most  of  'em 
from  this  gent's  bed,  so  he's  safe." 

"  You  are  again  to  be  congratulated,  suh,"  ad 
dressed  the  Colonel,  to  me.  "Allow  me  to  interdeuce 
you.  Shake  hands  with  my  friend  Mr.  Bill  Brady. 
Bill,  I  present  to  you  a  fellow-citizen  of  mine  from 
grand  old  New  York  State." 


64  DESERT  DUST 

The  frowsy  man  struggled  up,  shifted  his  revolver 
so  as  not  to  sit  on  it,  and  extended  his  hand. 

"  Proud  to  make  yore  acquaintance,  sir.  Any 
friend  of  the  Colonel's  is  a  friend  o'  mine." 

"We  will  likker  up  directly,"  the  Colonel  informed. 
"  But  fust  the  gentleman  desires  to  attend  to  his  per 
son.  Mr.  Brady,  suh,"  he  continued,  for  my  benefit, 
"  is  one  of  our  leading  citizens,  being  proprietor  of — 
what  is  it  now,  Bill  ?  " 

"  Wall,"  said  Mr.  Brady,  "  I've  pulled  out  o'  the 
Last  Chance  and  I'm  on  spec'.  The  Last  Chance  got 
a  leetle  too  much  on  the  brace  for  healthy  play;  and 
when  that  son  of  a  gun  of  a  miner  from  South  Pass 
City  shot  it  up,  I  quit." 

"  Naturally,"  conceded  the  Colonel.  "  Mr.  Brady," 
he  explained,  "  has  been  one  of  our  most  distinguished 
bankers,  but  he  has  retired  from  that  industry  and  is 
considering  other  investments." 

"The  bath-room?  Where  is  it,  gentlemen?"  I 
ventured. 

"If  you  will  step  outside  the  door,  suh,  you  can 
hear  the  splashing  down  the  hall.  It  is  the  custom, 
however,  foh  gentlemen  at  tub  to  keep  the  bath-room 
door  closed,  in  case  of  ladies  promenading.  You  will 
have  time  foh  your  preliminary  toilet  and  foh  a  little 
refreshment  and  a  pasear  in  town.  I  judge,  with  five 
ahead  of  you  and  one  in,  the  clerk  was  mighty  near 
right  when  he  said  about  two  hours.  That  allows 
twenty  minutes  to  each  gentleman,  which  is  the  limit. 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  65 

A  gentleman  who  requires  more  than  twenty  minutes 
to  insure  his  respectability,  suh,  is  too  dirty  foh  such 
accommodations.  He  should  resort  to  the  river. 
Ain't  that  so,  Bill?" 

"  Perfectly  correct,  Colonel.  I  kin  take  an  all- 
over,  myself,  in  fifteen,  whenever  it's  healthy." 

"  But  a  dollar  and  a  half  for  a  twenty  minutes'  bath 
in  a  public  tub  is  rather  steep,  seems  to  me,"  said  I, 
as  I  removed  my  coat  and  opened  my  bag. 

"  Not  so,  suh,  if  I  may  question  your  judgment," 
the  Colonel  reproved.  "  The  tub,  suh,  is  private  to 
the  person  in  it.  He  is  never  intruded  upon  unless  he 
hawgs  his  time  or  the  water  disagrees  with  him.  The 
water,  suh,  is  hauled  from  the  river  by  a  toilsome 
journey  of  three  miles.  You  understand,  suh,  that 
this  great  and  growing  city  is  founded  upon  the  sheer 
face  of  the  Red  Desert,  where  the  railroad  stopped — 
the  river  being  occupied  by  a  Government  reservation 
named  Fort  Steele.  The  Government — the  United 
States  Government,  suh — having  corralled  the  river 
where  the  railroad  crosses,  until  we  procure  a  nearer 
supply  by  artesian  wells  or  by  laying  a  pipe  line  we 
are  public  spirited  enough  to  haul  our  water  bodily, 
for  ablution  purposes,  at  ten  dollars  the  barrel,  or  ten 
cents,  one  dime,  the  bucket.  A  bath,  suh,  uses  up 
consider'ble  water,  even  if  at  a  slight  reduction  you 
are  privileged  to  double  up  with  another  gentleman." 

I  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  thus  "  doubling  up." 
God,  how  my  stomach  sank  and  my  gorge  rose  as  I 


66  DESERT  DUST 

rummaged  through  that  bag,  and  with  my  toilet  ar 
ticles  in  hand  faced  the  wash-stand ! 

They  two  intently  watched  my  operations;  the 
Colonel  craned  to  peer  into  my  valise — and  presently 
I  might  interpret  his  curiosity. 

"  The  prime  old  bourbon  served  at  the  fust-class 
New  York  bars  still  maintains  its  reputation,  I  dare 
hope,  suh  ?  "  he  interrogated. 

"  I  cannot  say,  I'm  sure,"  I  replied. 

"  No,  suh,"  he  agreed.  "  Doubtless  you  are  partial 
to  your  own  stock.  That  bottle  which  I  see  doesn't 
happen  to  be  a  sample  of  your  favorite  preserva 
tive?" 

"That?"  I  retorted.  "It  is  toilet  water.  I  am 
sorry  to  say  I  have  no  liquor  with  me." 

"  The  deficiency  will  soon  be  forgotten,  suh,"  the 
Colonel  bravely  consoled.  "  Bill,  we  shall  have  to 
personally  conduct  him  and  provide  him  with  the 
proper  entertainment." 

"  What  is  your  special  line  o'  business,  if  you  don't 
mind  my  axin'  ?  "  Bill  invited. 

"  I  am  out  here  for  my  health,  at  present,"  said  I, 
vainly  hunting  a  clean  spot  on  the  towel.  "  I  have 
been  advised  by  my  physician  to  seek  a  place  in  the 
Far  West  that  is  high  and  dry.  Benton  " — and  I 
laughed  miserably,  "  certainly  is  dry."  For  now  I 
began  to  appreciate  the  frankly  affirmative  responses 
to  my  previous  confessions.  "And  high,  judging  by 
the  rates." 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  67 

"  Healthily  dry,  suh,  in  the  matter  of  water,"  the 
Colonel  approved.  "  We  are  not  cursed  by  the  hu 
midity  of  New  York  State,  grand  old  State  that  she 
is.  Foh  those  who  require  water,  there  is  the  Platte 
only  three  miles  distant.  The  nearer  proximity  of 
water  we  consider  a  detriment  to  the  robustness  of  a 
community.  Our  rainy  weather  is  toler'bly  infre 
quent.  The  last  spell  we  had — lemme  see.  There 
was  a  brief  shower,  scurcely  enough  to  sanction  a 
parasol  by  a  lady,  last  May,  warn't  it,  Bill?  When 
we  was  camped  at  Rawlins'  Springs,  shooting  ante 
lope." 

"  Some'ers  about  that  time.  But  didn't  last  long — 
not  more'n  two  minutes,"  Bill  responded. 

"As  foh  fluids  demanded  by  the  human  system,  we 
are  abundantly  blessed,  suh.  There  is  scurcely  any 
popular  brand  that  you  can't  get  in  Benton,  and  I  hold 
that  we  have  the  most  skillful  mixtologists  in  history. 
There  are  some  who  are  artists;  artists,  suh.  But 
mainly  we  prefer  our  likker  straight." 

"  We're  high,  too,"  Bill  put  in.  "  Well  over  seven 
thousand  feet,  'cordin'  to  them  railroad  engineers." 

"  Yes,  suh,  you  are  a  mile  and  more  nearer  Heaven 
here  in  Benton  than  you  were  when  beside  the  noble 
Hudson,"  supplemented  the  Colonel.  "And  the  prices 
of  living  are  reasonable;  foh  money,  suh,  is  cheap  and 
ready  to  hand.  No  drink  is  less  than  two  bits,  and  a 
man  won't  tote  a  match  across  a  street  foh  less  than  a 
drink.  Money  grows,  suh,  foh  the  picking.  Our 


68  DESERT  DUST 

merchants  are  clearing  thirty;  thousand  dollars  a 
month,  and  the  professional  gentleman  who  tries  to 
limit  his  game  is  considered  a  low-down  tin-horn. 
Yes,  suh.  This  is  the  greatest  terminal  of  the  great 
est  railroad  in  the  known  world.  It  has  Omaha,  No'th 
Platte,  Cheyenne  beat  to  a  frazzle.  You  cannot  fail 
to  prosper."  They  had  been  critically  watching  me 
wash  and  rearrange  my  clothing.  "  You  are  not 
heeled,  suh,  I  see  ?  " 

"Heeled?"  I  repeated. 

"  Equipped  with  a  shooting-iron,  suh.  Or  do  you 
intend  to  remedy  that  deficiency  also  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  been  in  the  habit  of  carrying  arms." 

"  'Most  everybody  packs  a  gun  or  a  bowie,"  Bill 
remarked.  "  Gents  and  ladies  both.  But  there's  no 
law  ag'in  not." 

I  had  finished  my  meager  toilet,  and  was  glad,  for 
the  espionage  had  been  annoying. 

"  Now  I  am  at  your  service  during  a  short  period, 
gentlemen,"  I  announced.  "  Later  I  have  an  engage 
ment,  and  shall  ask  to  be  excused." 

The  Colonel  arose  with  alacrity.  Bill  stood,  and 
seized  his  hat  hanging  at  the  head  of  the  bed. 

"A  little  liquid  refreshment  is  in  order  fust,  I 
reckon,"  quoth  the  Colonel.  "  I  claim  the  privilege, 
of  course.  And  after  that — you  have  sporting  blood, 
suh?  You  will  desire  to  take  a  turn  or  two  foh  the 
honor  of  the  Empire  State?  " 

The  inference  was  not  quite  clear.     To  develop  it  I 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  69 

replied  guardedly,  albeit  unwilling  to  pose  as  a  milk 
sop. 

"  I  assuredly  am  not  averse  to  any  legitimate 
amusement." 

"That's  it,"  Bill  commended.  "Nobody  is,  who 
has  red  in  him;  and  a  fellow  kin  see  you've  cut  yore 
eye-teeth.  What  might  you  prefer,  in  line  of  a  pass- 
the-time,  on  spec'  ?  " 

"  What  is  there,  if  you  please?  "  I  encouraged. 

He  and  the  Colonel  gravely  contemplated  each 
other.  Bill  scratched  his  head,  and  slowly  closed  one 
eye. 

"  There's  a  good  open  game  of  stud  at  the  North 
Star,"  he  proffered.  "  I  kin  get  the  gentleman  a  seat. 
No  limit." 

"  Maybe  our  friend's  luck  don't  run  to  stud,"  haz 
arded  the  Colonel.  "  Stud  exacts  the  powers  of  con 
centration,  like  faro."  And  he  also  closed  one  eye. 
"  It's  rather  early  in  the  evening  foh  close  quar 
ters.  Are  you  particularly  partial  to  the  tiger  or  the 
cases,  suh?"  he  queried  of  me.  "Or  would  you  be 
able  to  secure  transient  happiness  in  short  games,  foh 
a  starter,  while  we  move  along,  like  a  bee  from  flower 
to  flower,  gathering  his  honey?  " 

"If  you  are  referring  to  card  gambling,  sir,"  I  an 
swered,  "  you  have  chosen  a  poor  companion.  But  I 
do  not  intend  to  be  a  spoil  sport,  and  I  shall  be  glad 
to  have  you  show  me  whatever  you  think  worth  while 
in  the  city,  so  far  as  I  have  the  leisure." 


70  DESERT  DUST 

"  That's  it,  that's  it,  suh."  The  Colonel  appeared 
delighted.  "  Let  us  libate  to  the  gods  of  chance,  gen 
tlemen  ;  and  then  take  a  stroll." 

"  My  bag  will  be  safe  here  ?  "  I  prompted,  as  we 
were  about  to  file  out; 

"Absolutely,  suh.  Personal  property  is  respected 
in  Benton.  We'd  hang  the  man  who  moved  that  bag 
of  yours  the  fraction  of  one  inch." 

This  at  least  was  comforting.  As  much  could  not 
be  said  of  New  York  City.  The  Colonel  led  down 
the  echoing  hall  and  the  shaking  stairs,  into  the  lobby, 
peopled  as  before  by  men  in  all  modes  of  attire  and 
clustered  mainly  at  the  bar.  He  led  directly  to  the 
bar  itself. 

"  Three,  Ed.  Name  your  likker,  gentlemen.  A 
little  Double  X  foh  me,  Ed." 

"  Old  rye,"  Bill  briefly  ordered. 

The  bartender  set  out  bottle  and  whiskey  glasses, 
and  looked  upon  me.  I  felt  that  the  bystanders  were 
waiting.  My  gafb  proclaimed  the  "  pilgrim,"  but  I 
was  resolved  to  be  my  own  master,  and  for  liquor  I 
had  no  taste. 

"  Lemonade,  if  you  have  it,"  I  faltered. 

"Yes,  sir."  The  bartender  cracked  not  a  smile, 
but  a  universal  sigh,  broken  by  a  few  sniggers,  voiced 
the  appraisal  of  the  audience.  Some  of  the  loafers 
eyed  me  amusedly,  some  turned  away. 

"  Surely,  suh,  you  will  temper  that  with  a  dash  of 
fortifiah,"  the  Colonel  protested.  "A  pony  of  brandy, 


I  MEET  FRIENDS  71 

Ed — or  just  a  dash  to  cut  the  water  in  it.  To  me, 
suh,  the  water  in  this  country  is  vile — inimical  to  the 
human  stomick." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  I,  "  but  I  prefer  plain  lemon 
ade." 

"  The  gent  wants  his  pizen  straight,  same  as  the 
rest  of  you,"  calmly  remarked  the  bartender. 

My  lemonade  being  prepared,  the  Colonel  and  Bill 
tossed  off  full  glasses  of  whiskey,  acknowledged  with 
throaty  "A-ah!"  and  smack  of  lips;  and  I  hastily 
quaffed  my  lemonade.  From  the  dollar  which  the 
Colonel  grandly  flung  upon  the  bar  he  received  no 
change — by  which  I  might  figure  that  whereas  whis 
key  was  twenty-five  cents  the  glass,  lemonade  was 
fifty  cents. 

We  issued  into  the  street  and  were  at  once  engulfed 
by  a  ferment  of  sights  and  sounds  extraordinary. 


CHAPTER  V 

ON  GRAND  TOUR 

THE  sun  had  set  and  all  the  golden  twilight  was 
hazy  with  the  dust  suspended  in  swirl  and  strata  over 
the  ugly  roofs.  In  the  canvas-faced  main  street  the 
throng  and  noise  had  increased  rather  than  dimin 
ished  at  the  approach  of  dusk.  Although  clatter  of 
dishes  mingled  with  the  cadence,  the  people  acted  as  if 
they  had  no  thought  of  eating;  and  while  aware  of 
certain  pangs  myself,  I  felt  a  diffidence  in  proposing 
supper  as  yet. 

My  two  companions  hesitated  a  moment,  spying  up 
and  down,  which  gave  me  opportunity  to  view  the 
scene  anew.  Surely  such  an  hotch-potch  never  be 
fore  populated  an  American  town:  Men  flannel 
shirted,  high  booted,  shaggy  haired  and  bearded, 
stumping  along  weighted  with  excess  of  belts  and  for 
midable  revolvers  balanced,  not  infrequently,  by 
sheathed  butcher-knives — men  whom  I  took  to  be 
teamsters,  miners,  railroad  graders,  and  the  like; 
other  men  white  skinned,  clean  shaven  except  perhaps 
for  moustaches  and  goatees,  in  white  silk  shirts  or 
ruffled  bosoms,  broadcloth  trousers  and  trim  footgear, 
unarmed,  to  all  appearance,  but  evidently  respected; 
men  of  Eastern  garb  like  myself — tourists,  maybe, 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  73 

or  merchants;  a  squad  of  surveyors  in  picturesque 
neckerchiefs,  and  revolver  girted;  trainmen,  grimy 
engineers  and  firemen;  clerks,  as  I  opined,  dapper  and 
bustling,  clad  in  the  latest  fashion,  with  diamonds  in 
flashy  ties  and  heavy  gold  watch  chains  across  their 
fancy  waistcoats;  soldiers;  men  whom  I  took  to  be 
Mexicans,  'by  their  velvet  jackets,  slashed  pantaloons 
and  filagreed  hats;  darkly  weathered,  leathery  faced, 
long-haired  personages,  no  doubt  scouts  and  trappers, 
in  fringed  buckskins  and  beaded  moccasins;  blanket 
wrapped  Indians;  and  women. 

Of  the  women  a  number  were  unmistakable  as  to 
vocation,  being  lavishly  painted,  strident,  and  bold, 
and  significantly  dressed.  I  saw  several  in  amazing 
costumes  of  tightly  fitting  black  like  ballet  girls,  low 
necked,  short  skirted,  around  the  smooth  waists  snake- 
skin  belts  supporting  handsome  little  pistols  and  dainty 
poignards.  Contrasted  there  were  women  of  other 
class  and,  I  did  not  doubt,  of  better  repute;  some  in 
gowns  and  bonnets  that  would  do  them  credit  any 
where  in  New  York,  and  some,  of  course,  more  com 
monly  attired  in  calico  and  gingham  as  proper  to  the 
humbler  station  of  laundresses,  cooks,  and  so  forth. 

The  uproar  was  a  jargon  of  shouts,  hails,  music, 
hammering,  barking,  scuff  of  feet,  trample  of  horses 
and  oxen,  rumble  of  creaking  wagons  and  Concord 
stages. 

"  Well,  suh,"  spoke  the  Colonel,  pulling  his  hat 
over  his  eyes,  "  shall  we  stroll  a  piece  ?  '* 


74  DESERT  DUST 

"Might  better,"   assented   Bill.     "The  gentleman 
may  find  something  of  interest  right  in  the  open. 
How  are  you  on  the  goose,  sir?  "  he  demanded  of  me. 

"The  goose?"  I  uttered. 

"  Yes.     Keno." 

"  I  am  a  stranger  to  the  goose,"  said  I. 

He  grunted. 

"  It  gives  a  quick  turn  for  a  small  stake.  So  do  the 
three-card  and  rondo." 

Of  passageway  there  was  not  much  choice  be 
tween  the  middle  of  the  street  and  the  borders. 
Seemed  to  me  as  we  weaved  along  through  groups  of 
idlers  and  among  busily  stepping  people  that  every 
other  shop  was  a  saloon,  with  door  widely  open  and 
bar  and  gambling  tables  well  attended.  The  odor  of 
liquor  saturated  the  acrid  dust.  Yet  the  genuine 
shops,  even  of  the  rudest  construction,  were  piled 
from  the  front  to  the  rear  with  commodities  of  all 
kinds,  and  goods  were  yet  heaped  upon  the  ground  in 
front  and  behind  as  if  the  merchants  had  no  time  for 
unpacking.  The  incessant  hammering,  I  ascertained, 
came  from  amateur  carpenters,  including  mere  boys, 
here  and  there  engaged  as  if  life  depended  upon  their 
efforts,  in  erecting  more  buildings  from  knocked- 
down  sections  like  cardboard  puzzles  and  from  lumber 
already  cut  and  numbered. 

My  guides  nodded  right  and  left  with  "  Hello, 
Frank,"  "How  are  you,  Dan?"  "Evening,  Char 
ley,"  and  so  on.  Occasionally  the  Colonel  swept  off 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  75 

his  hat,  with  elaborate  deference,  to  a  woman,  but  I 
looked  in  vain  for  My  Lady  in  Black.  I  did  not  see 
her — nor  did  I  see  her  peer,  despite  the  fact  that  now 
and  then  I  observed  a  face  and  figure  of  apparent  at 
tractiveness. 

Above  the  staccato  of  conversation  and  exclama 
tion  there  arose  the  appeals  of  the  barkers  for  the 
gambling  resorts. 

"This  way.  Shall  we  see  what  he's  got?"  the 
Colonel  invited.  Forthwith  veering  aside  he  crossed 
the  street  in  obedience  to  a  summons  of  whoops  and 
shouts  that  set  the  very  dust  to  vibrating. 

A  crowd  had  gathered  before  a  youth — a  perspir 
ing,  red-faced  youth  with  a  billy-cock  hat  shoved  back 
upon  his  bullet  head — a  youth  in  galluses  and  soiled 
shirt  and  belled  pantaloons,  who,  standing  upon  a 
box  for  elevation,  was  exhorting  at  the  top  of  his 
lungs. 

"  Whoo-oop !  This  way,  this  way !  Everybody 
this  way!  Come  on,  you  rondo-coolo  sports!  Give 
us  a  bet!  A  bet!  Rondo  coolo-oh!  Rondo  coolo- 
oh!  Here's  your  easy  money!  Down  with  your 
soap !  Let  her  roll !  Rondo  coolo-oh !  " 

"  It's  a  great  game,  suh,"  the  Colonel  flung  back 
over  his  shoulder. 

We  pushed  forward,  to  the  front.  The  center  for 
the  crowd  was  a  table  not  unlike  a  small  billiard  table 
or,  saving  the  absence  of  pins,  a  tivoli  table  such  as 
enjoyed  by  children.  But  across  one  end  there  were 


76  DESERT  DUST 

several  holes,  into  which  balls,  ten  or  a  dozen,  resem 
bling  miniature  billiard  balls,  might  roll. 

The  balls  had  been  banked,  in  customary  pyramid 
shape  for  a  break  as  in  pool,  at  the  opposite  end;  and 
just  as  we  arrived  they  had  been  propelled  all  for 
ward,  scattering,  by  a  short  cue  rapidly  swept  across 
their  base. 

"  Rondo  coolo,  suh,"  the  Colonel  was  explaining, 
"  as  you  see,  is  an  improvement  on  the  old  rondo,  foh 
red-blooded  people.  You  may  place  your  bets  in  va 
rious  ways,  on  the  general  run,  or  the  odd  or  the  even ; 
and  as  the  bank  relies,  suh,  only  on  percentage,  the 
popular  game  is  strictly  square.  There  is  no  chance 
foh  a  brace  in  rondo  coolo.  Shall  we  take  a  turn,  foh 
luck?" 

The  crowd  was  craning  and  eyeing  the  gyrating 
balls  expectantly.  A  part  of  the  balls  entered  the 
pockets;  the  remainder  came  to  rest. 

"  Rondo,"  announced  the  man  with  the  short  cue, 
amidst  excited  ejaculations  from  winners  and  losers. 
And  according  to  a  system  which  I  failed  to  grasp, 
except  that  it  comprised  the  number  of  balls  pocketed, 
he  deftly  distributed  from  one  collection  of  checks 
and  coins  to  another,  quickly  absorbed  by  greedy 
hands. 

"  She  rolls  again.  Make  your  bets,  ladies  and 
gents,"  he  intoned.  "  It's  rondo  coolo — simple  rondo 
coolo."  And  he  reassembled  the  balls. 

"  I  prefer  not  to  play,  sir,"  I  responded  to  the  heav- 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  77 

ily  breathing  Colonel.  "  I  am  new  here  and  I  cannot 
afford  to  lose  until  I  am  better  established." 

"  Never  yet  seen  a  man  who  couldn't  afford  to  win, 
though,"  Bill  growled.  "  Easy  pickin',  too.  But 
come  on,  then.  We'll  give  you  a  straight  steer 
some'rs  else." 

So  we  left  the  crowd — containing  indeed  women  as 
well  as  men — to  their  insensate  fervor  over  a  childish 
game  under  the  stimulation  of  the  raucous,  sweating 
barker.  Of  gambling  devices,  in  the  open  of  the 
street,  there  was  no  end.  My  conductors  appeared  to 
have  the  passion,  for  our  course  led  from  one  method 
of  hazard  to  another — roulette,  chuck-a-luck  where 
the  patrons  cast  dice  for  prizes  of  money  and  valu 
ables  arrayed  upon  numbered  squares  of  an  oilcloth 
covered  board,  keno  where  numbered  balls  were  de 
canted  one  at  a  time  from  a  bottle-shaped  leather  re 
ceptacle  called,  I  learned,  the  "goose,"  and  the  players 
kept  tab  by  filling  in  little  cards  as  in  domestic  lotto; 
and  finally  we  stopped  at  the  simplest  apparatus  of 
all. 

"  The  spiel  game  for  me,  gentlemen,"  said  the 
Colonel.  "  Here  it  is.  Yes,  suh,  there's  nothing  like 
monte,  where  any  man  is  privileged  to  match  his  eyes 
against  fingers.  Nobody  but  a  blind  man  can  lose  at 
monte,  by  George !  " 

"And  this  spieler's  on  the  level,"  Bill  pronounced, 
sotto  voce.  "  I  vote  we  hook  him  for  a  gudgeon,  and 
get  the  price  of  a  meal.  Our  friend  will  join  us  in 


78  DESERT  DUST 

the  turn.  He  can  see  for  himself  that  he  can't  lose. 
He's  got  sharp  eyes." 

The  bystanders  here  were  stationed  before  a  man 
sitting  at  a  low  tripod  table;  and  all  that  he  had  was 
the  small  table — a  plain  cheap  table  with  folding  legs 
— and  three  playing  cards.  Business  was  a  trifle 
slack.  I  thought  that  his  voice  crisped  aggressively 
as  we  elbowed  through,  while  he  sat  idly  skimming  the 
three  cards  over  the  table,  with  a  flick  of  his  hand. 

"  Two  jacks,  and  the  ace,  gentlemen.  There  they 
are.  I  have  faced  them  up.  Now  I  gather  them 
slowly — you  can't  miss  them.  Observe  closely.  The 
jack  on  top,  between  thumb  and  forefinger.  The  ace 
next — ace  in  the  middle.  The  other  jack  bottom 
most."  He  turned  his  hand,  with  the  three  cards  in 
a  tier,  so  that  all  might  see.  "  The  ace  is  the  winning 
card.  You  are  to  locate  the  ace.  Observe  closely 
again.  It's  my  hand  against  your  eyes.  I  am  going 
to  throw.  Who  will  spot  the  ace?  Watch,  every 
body.  Ready !  Go !  "  The  backs  of  the  cards  were 
up.  With  a  swift  movement  he  released  the  three, 
spreading  them  in  a  neat  row,  face  down,  upon  the 
table.  He  carelessly  shifted  them  hither  and  thither — 
and  his  fingers  were  marvelously  nimble,  lightly 
touching.  "  Twenty  dollars  against  your  twenty  that 
you  can't  pick  out  the  ace,  first  try.  I'll  let  the  cards 
lie.  I  shan't  disturb  them.  There  they  are.  If 
you've  watched  the  ace  fall,  you  win.  If  you  haven't, 
you  lose  unless  you  guess  right." 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  79 

"Just  do  that  trick  again,  will  you,  for  the  benefit 
of  my  friend  here  ?  "  bade  the  Colonel.  ' 

The  "  spieler  " — a  thin-lipped,  cadaverous  individ 
ual,  his  soft  hat  cavalierly  aslant,  his  black  hair 
combed  flatly  in  a  curve  down  upon  his  damp  fore 
head,  a  pair  of  sloe  eyes,  and  a  flannel  shirt  open  upon 
his  bony  chest — glanced  alert.  He  smiled. 

"  Hello,  sir.  I'm  agreeable.  Yes,  sir.  But  as 
they  He,  will  you  make  a  guess ?  No?  Or  you,  sir?" 
And  he  addressed  Bill.  "No?  Then*  you,  sir?" 
He  appealed  to  me.  "  No  ?  But  I'm  a  mind-reader. 
I  can  tell  by  your  eyes.  They're  upon  the  right-end 
card.  Aha!  Correct."  He  had  turned  up  the  card 
and  shown  the  ace.  "  You  should  have  bet.  You 
would  have  beaten  me,  sir.  You've  got  the  eyes.  I 
think  you've  seen  this  game  before.  No?  Ah,  but 
you  have,  or  else  you're  born  lucky.  Now  I'll  try 
again.  For  the  benefit  of  these  three  gentlemen  I  will 
try  again.  Kindly  reserve  your  bets,  friends  all,  and 
you  shall  have  your  chance.  This  game  never  stops. 
I  am  always  after  revenge.  Watch  the  ace.  I  pick 
up  the  cards.  Ace  first — blessed  ace;  and  the  jacks. 
Watch  close.  There  you  are."  He  briefly  exposed 
the  faces  of  the  cards.  "  Keep  your  eyes  upon  the 
ace.  Ready — go !  " 

He  spread  the  cards.  As  he  had  released  he  had 
tilted  them  slightly,  and  I  clearly  saw  the  ace  land. 
The  cards  fell  in  the  same  order  as  arranged.  To 
that  I  would  have  sworn. 


80  DESERT  DUST 

"Five  dollars  now  that  any  one  card  is  not  the 
ace,"  he  challenged.  "  I  shall  not  touch  them.  A 
small  bet — just  enough  to  make  it  interesting.  Five 
dollars  from  you,  sir  ?  "  He  looked  at  me  direct.  I 
shook  my  head ;  I  was  sternly  resolved  not  to  be  over 
tempted.  "  What  ?  No  ?  You  will  wait  another 
turn  ?  Very  well.  How  about  you,  sir  ? "  to  the 
Colonel. 

"  I'll  go  halvers  with  you,  Colonel,"  Bill  pro 
posed. 

"  I'm  on,"  agreed  the  Colonel.  "  There's  the  soap. 
And  foh  the  honor  of  the  grand  old  Empire  State  we 
will  let  our  friend  pick  the  ace  foh  us.  I  have  faith 
in  those  eyes  of  his,  suhs." 

"  But  that  is  scarcely  fair,  sir,  when  I  am  risking 
nothing,"  I  protested. 

"  Go  ahead,  suh ;  go  ahead,"  he  urged.  "  It  is  just 
a  sporting  proposition  foh  general  entertainment." 

"And  I'll  bet  you  a  dollar  on  the  side  that  you  don't 
spot  the  ace,"  the  dealer  baited.  "  Come  now.  Make 
it  interesting  for  yourself." 

"  I'll  not  bet,  but  since  you  insist,  there's  the  ace." 
And  I  turned  up  the  right-end  card. 

"  By  the  Eternal,  he's  done  it !  He  has  an  eye  like 
an  eagle's,"  praised  the  dealer,  with  evident  chagrin. 
"  I  lose.  Once  again,  now.  Everybody  in,  this  time." 
He  gathered  the  cards.  "  I'll  play  against  you  all, 
this  gentleman  included.  And  if  I  lose,  why,  that's 
life,  gentleman.  Some  of  us  win,  some  of  us  lose. 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  81 

Watch  the  ace  and  have  your  money  ready.  You  can 
follow  this  gentleman's  tip.  I'm  afraid  he's  smarter 
than  me,  but  I'm  game." 

He  was  too  insistent.  Somehow,  I  did  not  like  him, 
anyway,  and  I  was  beginning  to  be  suspicious  of  my 
company.  Their  minds  trended  entirely  toward 
gambling;  to  remain  with  them  meant  nothing 
farther  than  the  gaming  tables,  and  I  was  hungry. 

"  You'll  have  to  excuse  me,  gentleman,"  I  pleaded. 
"Another  time,  but  not  now.  I  wish  to  eat  and  to 
bathe,  and  I  have  an  engagement  following." 

"  Gad,  suh !  "  The  Colonel  fixed  me  with  his  fishy 
eyes.  "  Foh  God's  sake  don't  break  your  winning 
streak  with  eatin*  and  washin*.  Fortune  is  a  fickle 
jade,  suh ;  she's  hostile  when  slapped  in  the  face." 

Bill  glowered  at  me,  but  I  was  firm. 

"  If  you  will  give  me  the  pleasure  of  taking  supper 

with  me  at  some  good  place "  I  suggested,  as 

they  pursued  me  into  the  street. 

"  We  can't  talk  this  over  while  we're  dry,"  the 
Colonel  objected.  "  That  is  a  human  impossibility. 
Let  us  libate,  suhs,  in  order  to  tackle  our  provender 
in  proper  spirit." 

"  And  no  lemonade  goes  this  time,  either,"  Bill  de 
clared.  "  That  brand  of  a  drink  is  insultin'  to  good 
victuals." 

We  were  standing,  for  the  moment,  verging  upon 
argument  much  to  my  distaste,  when  on  a  sudden  who 
should  come  tripping  along  but  My  Lady  of  the  Blue 


82  DESERT  DUST 

Eyes — yes,  the  very  flesh  and  action  of  her,  her  face 
shielded  from  the  dust  by  a  little  sunshade. 

She  saw  me,  recognized  me  in  startled  fashion,  and 
with  a  swift  glance  at  my  two  companions  bowed. 
My  hat  was  off  in  a  twinkling,  with  my  best  manner ; 
the  Colonel  barely  had  time  to  imitate  ere,  leaving  me 
a  quick  smile,  she  was  gone  on. 

He  and  Bill  stared  after;  then  at  me. 

"Gad,  suh!  You  know  the  lady?"  the  Colonel 
ejaculated. 

"  I  have  the  honor.  We  were  passengers  upon  the 
same  train." 

"  Clean  through,  you  mean?  "  queried  Bill. 

"  Yes.  We  happened  to  get  on  together,  at 
Omaha." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  suh,"  affirmed  the  Colonel. 
"  We  were  not  aware,  suh,  that  you  had  an  acquaint 
ance  of  that  nature  in  this  city." 

Again  congratulation  over  my  fortune!  It 
mounted  to  my  head,  but  I  preserved  decorum. 

"  A  casual  acquaintance.  We  were  merely  travel 
ers  by  the  same  route  at  the  same  time.  And  now  if 
you  will  recommend  a  good  eating  place,  and  be  my 
guests  at  supper,  after  that,  as  I  have  said,  I  must  be 
excused.  By  the  way,  while  I  think  of  it,"  I  care 
lessly  added,  "  can  you  direct  me  how  to  get  to  the 
Big  Tent?" 

"  The  Big  Tent?  If  I  am  not  intruding,  suh,  does 
your  engagement  comprise  the  Big. Tent?" 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  83 

"  Yes.     But  I  failed  to  get  the  address." 

The  Colonel  swelled;  his  fishy  eyes  hardened  upon 
me  as  with  righteous  indignation. 

"  Suh,  you  are  too  damned  innocent.  You  come 
here,  suh,  imposing  as  a  stranger,  suh,  and  throwing 
yourself  on  our  goodness,  suh,  to  entertain  you;  and 
you  conceal  your  irons  in  the  fiah  under  your  hat, 
suh.  Do  we  look  green,  suh?  What  is  your  voca 
tion,  suh?  I  believe,  by  gad,  suh,  that  you  are  a  com 
mon  capper  foh  some  infernal  skinning  game,  or  that 
you  are  a  professional.  Suh,  I  call  your  hand." 

I  was  about  to  retort  hotly  that  I  had  not  requested 
their  chaperonage,  and  that  my  affair  with  My  Lady 
and  the  Big  Tent,  howsoever  they  might  take  it,  was 
my  own;  when  Mr.  Brady,  who  likewise  had  been 
glaring  at  me,  growled  morosely. 

"  She's  waitin'  for  you.  You  can  square  with  us 
later,  and  if  there's  something  doin'  on  the  table  we 
want  a  show." 

The  black-clad  figure  had  lingered  beyond;  osten 
sibly  gazing  into  a  window  but  now  and  again  dart 
ing  a  glance  in  our  direction.  I  accepted  the  glances 
as  a  token  of  inclination  on  her  part;  without  saying 
another  word  to  my  ruffled  body-guards  I  approached 
her. 

She  received  me  with  a  quick  turn  of  head  as  if  not 
expecting,  but  with  a  ready  smile. 

"Well,  sir?" 

"  Madam,"  I  uttered  foolishly,  "  good-evening." 


84  DESERT  DUST 

"  You  have  left  your  friends?  " 

"  Very  willingly.  Whether  they  are  really  my 
friends  I  rather  question.  They  have  seen  fit  to  escort 
me  about,  is  all." 

"And  I  have  rescued  you?"  She  smiled  again. 
"  Believe  me,  sir,  you  would  be  better  off  alone.  I 
know  the  gentlemen.  They  have  been  paid  for  their 
trouble,  have  they  not  ?  " 

"  They  have  won  a  little  at  gambling,  but  in  that  I 
had  no  hand,"  I  replied.  "  So  far  they  have  asked 
nothing  more." 

"  Certainly  not.    And  you  put  up  no  stakes?  " 

"  Not  a  penny,  madam.    Why  should  I  ?  " 

"  To  make  it  interesting,  as  they  doubtless  said. 
The  Colonel,  as  all  the  town  knows,  is  a  notorious 
capper  and  steerer,  and  the  fellow  Brady  is  no  better, 
no  worse.  Had  you  stayed  with  them  and  suffered 
them  to  persuade  you  into  betting,  you  would  soon 
have  been  fleeced  as  clean  as  a  shaved  pig.  The  little 
gains  they  are  permitted  to  make,  to  draw  you  on,  is 
their  pay.  Their  losses  if  any  would  have  been  re 
stored  to  them,  but  not  yours  to  you." 

"  Strange  to  say,  they  have  just  accused  me  of  be 
ing  a  '  capper/  "  I  answered,  nettled  as  I  began  to 
comprehend. 

"  From  what  cause,  sir?  " 

"  They  seemed  to  think  that  I  am  smarter  than  to 
my  actual  credit,  for  one  thing."  I,  of  course,  could 
not  involve  her  in  the  subject,  and  indeed  could  not 


'MADAM,"   I   UTTERED  FOOLISHLY,  "Gooo   EVENING." 


ON  GRAND  TOUR  85 

understand  why  she  should  have  been  held  responsi 
ble,  anyway.  "  And  probably  they  were  peeved  be 
cause  I  insisted  upon  eating  supper  and  then  follow 
ing  my  own  bent." 

"  You  were  about  to  leave  them  ? "  Her  face 
brightened.  "  That  is  good.  They  were  disappointed 
in  rinding  you  no  gudgeon  to  be  hooked  by  such  raw 
methods.  And  you've  not  had  supper  yet?  Promise 
me  that  you  will  take  up  with  no  more  strangers  or, 
I  assure  you,  you  may  wake  in  the  morning  with 
your  pockets  turned  inside  out  and  your  memory  at 
fault.  This  is  Benton." 

"Yes,  this  is  Benton,  is  it?"  I  rejoined;  and  per 
haps  bitterly. 

"  Benton,  Wyoming  Territory ;  of  three  thousand 
people  in  two  weeks;  in  another  month,  who  knows 
how  many?  And  the  majority  of  us  live  on  one  an 
other.  The  country  furnishes  nothing  else.  Still, 
you  will  find  it  not  much  different  from  what  I  told 
you." 

"  I  have  found  it  high  and  dry,  certainly,"  said  I. 

"  Where  are  you  stopping?  " 

"  At  the  Queen — with  a  bath  for  every  room.  I  am 
now  awaiting  the  turn  of  my  room,  at  the  end  of  an 
other  hour." 

"Oh!"  She  laughed  heartily.  "You  are  fortu 
nate,  sir.  The  Queen  may  not  be  considered  the  best 
in  all  ways,  but  they  say  the  towels  for  the  baths  are 
more  than  napkin  eize.  Meanwhile,  let  me  advise 


86  DESERT  DUST 

you.  Outfit  while  you  wait,  and  become  of  the  coun 
try.  You  look  too  much  the  pilgrim — there  is  East 
ern  dust  showing  through  our  Benton  dust,  and  that 
spells  of  other  '  dust '  in  your  pockets.  Get  another 
hat,  a  flannel  shirt,  some  coarser  trousers,  a  pair  of 
boots,  don  a  gun  and  a  swagger,  say  little,  make  few 
impromptu  friends,  win  and  lose  without  a  smile  or 
frown,  if  you  play  (but  upon  playing  I  will  advise  you 
later),  pass  as  a  surveyor,  as  a  railroad  clerk,  as  a 
Mormon — anything  they  choose  to  apply  to  you;  and 
I  shall  hope  to  see  you  to-night." 

"  You  shall,"  I  assured,  abashed  by  her  raillery. 
"  And  if  you  will  kindly  tell  me " 

"  The  meals  at  the  Belle  Marie  Cafe  are  as  good  as 
any.  You  can  see  the  sign  from  here.  So  adios,  sir, 
and  remember."  With  no  mention  of  the  Big  Tent 
she  flashed  a  smile  at  me  and  mingled  with  the  other 
pedestrians  crossing  the  street  on  diagonal  course. 
As  I  had  not  been  invited  to  accompany  her  I  stood, 
gratefully  digesting  her  remarks.  When  I  turned  for 
a  final  word  with  my  two  guides,  they  had  vanished. 

This  I  interpreted  as  a  confession  of  jealous  fear 
that  I  had  been,  in  slang  phrasing,  "  put  wise."  And 
sooth  to  say,  I  saw  them  again  no  more. 


CHAPTER  VI 

"  HIGH  AND  DRY  " 

THE  counsel  to  don  a  garb  smacking  less  of  the  re 
cent  East  struck  me  as  sound ;  for  although  I  was  not 
the  only  person  here  in  Eastern  guise,  nevertheless 
about  the  majority  of  the  populace  there  was  an  easy 
aggressiveness  that  my  appearance  evidently  lacked. 

So  I  must  hurry  ere  the  shops  closed. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  What  time  do  the  stores 
close,  can  you  tell  me  ?  "  I  asked  of  the  nearest  by 
stander. 

He  surveyed  me.   . 

"  Close?  Hell!  "  he  said.  "  They  don't  close  for 
even  a  dog  fight,  pardner.  Business  runs  twenty-five 
hours  every  day,  seven  days  the  week,  in  these 
diggin's." 

"  And  where  will  I  find  a  haberdashery?  " 

"A  what?     Talk  English.     What  you  want?" 

"  I  want  a — an  outfit ;  a  personal  outfit." 

"  Blanket  to  moccasins  ?  Levi's,  stranger.  Levi'll 
outfit  you  complete  and  throw  in  a  yellow  purp  under 
the  wagon." 

"  And  where  is  Levi's  ?  " 

"There."  And  he  jerked  his  head  aside.  "You 
could  shut  your  eyes  and  spit  in  the  doorway." 


88  DESERT  DUST 

With  that  he  rudely  turned  his  back  upon  me.  But 
sure  enough,  by  token  of  the  large  sign  "  Levi's 
Mammoth  Emporium:  Liquors,  Groceries  and  Gen 
eral  Merchandise,"  I  was  standing  almost  in  front  of 
the  store  itself. 

I  entered,  into  the  seething  aisle  flanked  by  heaped- 
up  counters  and  stacked  goods  that  bulged  the  par 
tially  boarded  canvas  walls.  At  last  I  gained  position 
near  one  of  the  perspiring  clerks  and  caught  his  eye. 

"Yes,  sir.  You,  sir?  What  can  I  do  for  you, 
sir  ?  "  He  rubbed  his  hands  alertly,  on  edge  with  a 
long  day. 

"  I  wish  a  hat,  flannel  shirt,  a  serviceable  ready- 
made  suit,  boots,  possibly  other  matters." 

"  We  have  exactly  the  things  for  you,  sir.  This 
way. 

"Going  out  on  the  advance  line,  sir?"  he  asked, 
while  I  made  selections. 

"  That  is  not  unlikely." 

"  They're  doing  great  work.  Three  miles  of  track 
laid  yesterday;  twelve  so  far  this  week.  Averaging 
two  and  one-half  miles  a  day  and  promising  better." 

"  So  I  understand,"  I  alleged. 

"  General  Jack  Casement  is  a  world  beater.  If  he 
could  get  the  iron  as  fast  as  he  could  use  it  he'd  build 
through  to  California  without  a  halt.  But  looks  now 
as  if  somewhere  between  would  have  to  satisfy  him. 
You  are  a  surveyor,  I  take  it  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  am  surveying  on  the  line  along  with  the 


"HIGH  AND  DRY"  89 

others,"  I  answered.  And  surveying  the  country  I 
was. 

"  You  are  the  gentlemen  who  lay  out  the  course," 
he  complimented.  "  Now,  is  there  something  else, 
sir?" 

"  I  need  a  good  revolver,  a  belt  and  ammunition." 

"We  carry  the  reliable— the  Colt's.  That's  the 
favorite  holster  gun  in  use  out  here.  Please  step 
across,  sir." 

He  led. 

"If  you're  not  particular  as  to  shine,"  he  resumed, 
"  we  have  a  second-hand  outfit  that  I  can  sell  you 
cheap.  Took  it  in  as  a  deposit,  and  the  gentleman 
never  has  called  for  it.  Of  course  you're  broken  in 
to  the  country,  but  as  you  know  a  new  belt  and  hol 
ster  are  apt  to  be  viewed  with  suspicion  and  a  gentle 
man  sometimes  has  to  draw  when  he'd  rather  not, 
to  prove  himself.  This  gun  has  been  used  just  enough 
to  take  the  roughness  off  the  trigger  pull,  and  it  em 
ploys  the  metallic  cartridges — very  convenient.  The 
furniture  for  it  is  O.  K.  And  all  at  half  price." 

I  was  glad  to  find  something  cheap.  The  boots  had 
been  fifteen  dollars,  the  hat  eight,  shirt  and  suit  in 
proportion,  and  the  red  silk  handkerchief  two  dollars 
and  a  half.  Yes,  Benton  was  "  high." 

With  my  bulky  parcel  I  sought  the  Belle  Marie 
Cafe,  ate  my  supper,  thence  hastened  through  the 
gloaming  to  the  hotel  for  bath  and  change  of  cos 
tume. 


90  DESERT  DUST 

I  had  yet  time  to  array  myself,  as  an  experiment 
and  a  lark;  and  that  I  sillily  did,  hurriedly  tossing 
my  old  garments  upon  bed  and  floor,  in  order  to  in 
vest  with  the  new.  The  third  bed  was  occupied  when 
I  came  in ;  occupied  on  the  outside  by  a  plump,  round- 
faced,  dust-scalded  man,  with  piggish  features  accen 
tuated  by  his  small  bloodshot  eyes;  dressed  in  East 
ern  mode  but  stripped  to  the  galluses,  as  was  the  cus 
tom.  He  lay  upon  his  back,  his  puffy  hands  folded 
across,  his  spherical  abdomen  where  his  pantaloons 
met  a  sweaty  pink-striped  shirt;  and  he  panted 
wheezingly  through  his  nose. 

"  Hell  of  a  country,  ain't  it !  "  he  observed  in  a  mo 
ment.  "  You  a  stranger,  too  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  here  a  short  time,  sir." 

"  Thought  so.  Jest  beginnin'  to  peel,  like  me.  I 
been  here  two  days.  What's  your  line  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  number  of  things  in  view,"  I  evaded. 

"  Well,  you  don't  have  to  tell  'em,"  he  granted. 
"  Thought  you  was  a  salesman.  I'm  from  Saint 
Louie,  myself.  Sell  groceries,  and  pasteboards  on  the 
side.  Cards  are  the  stuff.  I  got  the  best  line  of  sure- 
thing  stock — strippers,  humps,  rounds,  squares,  briefs 
and  marked  backs — that  ever  were  dealt  west  of  the 
Missouri.  Judas  Priest,  but  this  is  a  roarer  of  a  burg ! 
What  it  ain't  got  I  never  seen — and  I  ain't  no  spring 
goslin',  neither.  I've  plenty  sand  in  my  craw.  You 
ain't  been  plucked  yet?  " 

"  No,  sir.    I  never  gamble." 


"HIGH  AND  DRY"  91 

"  Wish  I  didn't,  but  my  name's  Jakey  and  I'm  a 
good  feller.  Say,  I'm  supposed  to  be  wise,  too,  but 
they  trimmed  me  two  hundred  dollars.  Now  I'm 
gettin'  out."  He  groaned.  "  Take  the  train  in  a  few 
minutes.  Dasn't  risk  myself  on  the  street  again. 
Sent  my  baggage  down  for  fear  I'd  lose  that.  Say," 
he  added,  watching  me,  "  looks  like  you  was  goin'  out 
yourself.  One  of  them  surveyor  fellers,  workin'  for 
the  railroad  ?  " 

"  It  might  be  so,  sir,"  I  replied. 

He  half  sat  up. 

"  You'll  want  to  throw  a  leg,  I  bet.  Lemme  tell 
you.  It's  a  hell  of  a  town  but  it's  got  some  fine 
wimmen;  yes,  and  a  few  straight  banks,  too.  You're 
no  crabber  or  piker;  I  can  see  that.  You  go  to  the 
North  Star.  Tell  Frank  that  Jakey  sent  you.  They'll 
treat  you  white.  You  be  sure  and  say  Jakey  sent  you. 
But  for  Gawd's  sake  keep  out  of  the  Big  Tent." 

"  The  Big  Tent?  "  I  uttered.     "  Why  so?  " 

"  They'll  sweat  you  there,"  he  groaned  lugubriously. 
"  Say,  friend,  could  you  lend  me  twenty  dollars  ? 
You've  still  got  your  roll.  I  ain't  a  stivver.  I'm 
busted  flat." 

"  I'm  sorry  that  I  can't  accommodate  you,  sir," 
said  I.  "  I  have  no  more  money  than  will  see  me 
through — and  according  to  your  story  perhaps  not 
enough." 

"  I've  told  you  of  the  North  Star.  You  mention 
Jakey  sent  you.  You'll  make  more  than  your  twenty 


92  DESERT  DUST 

back,  at  the  North  Star,"  he  urged  inconsistent  "  If 

it  hadn't  been  for  that  damned  Big  Tent "  and  he 

flopped  with  a  dismal  grunt. 

By  this  time,  all  the  while  conscious  of  his  devour 
ing  eyes,  I  had  changed  my  clothing  and  now  I  stood 
equipped  cap-a-pie,  with  my  hat  clapped  at  an  angle, 
and  my  pantaloons  in  my  boots,  and  my  red  silk  hand 
kerchief  tastefully  knotted  at  my  throat,  and  my  six- 
shooter  slung;  and  I  could  scarcely  deny  that  in  my 
own  eyes,  and  in  his,  I  trusted,  I  was  a  pretty  figure 
of  a  Westerner  who  would  win  the  approval,  as 
seemed  to  me,  of  My  Lady  in  Black  or  of  any  other 
lady. 

His  reflection  upon  the  Big  Tent,  however,  was  the 
fly  in  my  ointment.  Therefore,  preening  and  adjust 
ing  with  assumed  carelessness  I  queried,  in  real  con 
cern: 

"What  about  the  Big  Tent?  Where  is  it?  Isn't 
it  respectable  ?  " 

"Respectable?  Of  course  it's  respectable.  You 
don't  ketch  your  Jakey  in  no  place  that  ain't.  I've  a 
family  to  think  of.  You  ain't  been  there?  Say! 
There's  where  they  all  meet,  in  that  Big  Tent ;  all  the 
best  people,  too,  you  bet  you.  But  I  tell  you, 
friend " 

He  did  not  finish.  An  uproar  sounded  above  the 
other  street  clamor:  a  pistol  shot,  and  another — a 
chorus  of  hoarse  shouts  and  shrill  frightened  cries, 
the  scurrying  rush  of  feet,  all  in  the  street ;  and  in  the 


"HIGH  AND  DRY"  93 

hall  of  the  hotel,  and  the  lobby  below,  the  rush  of  still 
more  feet,  booted,  and  the  din  of  excited  voices. 

My  man  on  the  bed  popped  with  the  agility  of  a 
jack-in-the-box  for  the  window. 

"A  fight,  a  fight!  Shootin'  scrape!"  In  a  single 
motion  grabbing  coat  and  hat  he  was  out  through  the 
door  and  pelting  down  the  hall.  Overcome  by  the 
zest  of  the  moment  I  pelted  after,  and  with  several 
others  plunged  as  madly  upon  the  porch.  We  had 
left  the  lobby  deserted. 

The  shots  had  ceased.  Now  a  baying  mob  ramped 
through  the  street,  with  jangle  "  Hang  him !  Hang 
him !  String  him  up !  "  Borne  on  by  a  hysterical 
company  I  saw,  first  a  figure  bloody-chested  and  inert 
flat  in  the  dust,  with  stooping  figures  trying  to  raise 
him;  then,  beyond,  a  man  bareheaded,  whiskered,  but 
as  white  as  death,  hustled  to  and  fro  from  clutching 
hands  and  suddenly  forced  in  firm  grips  up  the  street, 
while  the  mob  trailed  after,  whooping,  cursing, 
shrieking,  flourishing  guns  and  knives  and  ropes. 
There  were  women  as  well  as  men  in  it. 

All  this  turned  me  sick.  From  the  outskirts  of  the 
throng  I  tramped  back  to  my  room  and  the  bath. 
The  hotel  was  quiet  as  if  emptied ;  my  room  was  va 
cant — and  more  than  vacant,  for  of  my  clothing  not 
a  vestige  remained!  My  bag  also  was  gone.  Worse 
yet,  prompted  by  an  inner  voice  that  stabbed  me  like 
an  icicle  I  was  awakened  to  the  knowledge  that  every 
cent  I  had  possessed  was  in  those  vanished  garments. 


94  DESERT  DUST 

For  an  instant  I  stood  paralyzed,  fronting  the 
calamity.  I  could  not  believe.  It  was  as  if  the  floor 
had  swallowed  my  belongings.  I  had  been  absent  not 
more  than  five  minutes.  Surely  this  was  the  room. 
Yes,  Number  Six;  and  the  beds  were  familiar,  their 
tumbled  covers  unaltered. 

Now  I  held  the  bath-room  responsible.  The  scoun 
drel  in  the  bath  had  heard,  had  taken  advantage,  made 
a  foray  and  hidden.  Out  I  ran,  exploring.  Every 
room  door  was  wide  open,  every  apartment  blank; 
but  there  was  a  splashing,  from  the  bath — I  listened 
at  the  threshold,  gently  tried  the  knob — and  received 
such  a  cry  of  angry  protest  that  it  sent  me  to  the 
right-about,  on  tiptoe.  The  thief  was  not  in  the 
bath. 

My  heart  sank  as  I  bolted  down  for  the  office.  The 
clerk  had  reinstated  himself  behind  the  counter.  He 
composedly  greeted  me,  with  calm  voice  and  with  eyes 
that  noted  my  costume. 

"  You  can  have  your  bath  as  soon  as  the  porter 
gets  back  from  the  hanging,  sir,"  he  said.  "  That  is, 
unless  you'd  prefer  to  hurry  up  by  toting  your  own 
water.  The  party  now  in  will  be  out  directly." 

"  Never  mind  the  bath,"  I  uttered,  breathless,  in  a 
voice  that  I  scarcely  recognized,  so  piping  and  aghast 
it  was.  "  I've  been  robbed — of  money,  clothes,  bag 
gage,  everything ! " 

"  Well,  what  at  ?  "  he  queried,  with  a  glimmer  of  a 
smile. 


"  HIGH  AND  DRY  "  95 

"What  at?  In  my  room,  I  tell  you.  I  had  just 
changed  to  try  on  these  things;  the  street  fight 
sounded;  I  was  gone  not  five  minutes  and  neverthe 
less  the  room  was  sacked.  Absolutely  sacked." 

"  That,"  he  commented  evenly,  "  is  hard  luck." 

"  Hard  luck!  "  I  hotly  rejoined.  "  It's  an  outrage. 
But  you  seem  remarkably  cool  about  it,  sir.  What 
do  you  propose  to  do  ?  " 

"  I?  "  He  lifted  his  brows.  "  Nothing.  They're 
not  my  valuables." 

"  But  this  is  a  respectable  hotel,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"Perfectly;  and  no  orphan  asylum.  We  attend 
strictly  to  our  business  and  expect  our  guests  to  at 
tend  to  theirs." 

"  I  was  told  that  it  was  safe  for  me  to  leave  my 
things  in  my  room." 

"  Not  by  me,  sir.  Read  that."  And  he  called  my 
attention  to  a  placard  that  said,  among  other  matters: 
"  We  are  not  responsible  for  property  of  any  nature 
left  by  guests  in  their  rooms." 

"Where's  the  chief  of  police?"  I  demanded. 
"  You  have  officers  here,  I  hope." 

"  Yes,  sir.  The  marshal  is  the  chief  of  police,  and 
he's  the  whole  show.  The  provost  guard  from  the 
post  helps  out  when  necessary.  But  you'll  find  the 
marshal  at  the  mayor's  office  or  else  at  the  North 
Star  gambling  hall,  three  blocks  up  the  street.  I  don't 
think  he'll  do  you  any  good,  though.  He's  not  likely 
to  bother  with  small  matters,  especially  when  he's 


96  DESERT  DUST 

dealing  faro  bank.  He  has  an  interest  in  the  North 
Star.  You'll  never  see  your  property  again.  Take 
my  word  for  it." 

"I  won't?    Why  not?" 

"  You've  played  the  gudgeon  for  somebody ;  that's 
all.  Easiest  thing  in  the  world  for  a  smart  gentleman 
to  slip  into  your  room  while  you  were  absent,  go 
through  it,  and  make  his  getaway  by  the  end  of  the 
hall,  out  over  the  kitchen  roof.  It's  been  done  many 
a  time." 

"  A  traveling  salesman  saw  me  dressing.  He  went 
out  before  me  but  he  might  have  doubled,"  I  gasped. 
"  He  had  one  of  the  beds — who  is  he?  " 

"  I  don't  know  him,  sir." 

"  A  round-bellied,  fat-faced  man — sold  groceries 
and  playing  cards." 

"  There  is  no  such  guest  in  your  room,  sir.  You 
have  bed  Number  One,  bed  Number  Two  is  assigned 
to  Mr.  Bill  Brady,  who  doubtless  will  be  in  soon. 
Number  Three  is  temporarily  vacant." 

"  The  man  said  he  was  about  to  catch  the  train 
east,"  I  pursued  desperately.  "  A  round-bellied,  fat- 
faced  man  in  pink  striped  shirt " 

"If  he  was  to  catch  any  train,  that  train  has  just 
pulled  out." 

"  And  who  was  in  the  bath,  ten  or  fifteen  minutes 
ago?" 

"  My  wife,  sir;  and  still  there.  She  has  to  take  her 
chances  like  everybody  else.  No,  sir;  you've  been 


"HIGH  AND  DRY"  97 

done.  You  may  find  your  clothes,  but  I  doubt  it. 
You  are  next  upon  the  bath  list."  And  he  became 
all  business.  "  The  porter  will  carry  up  the  water 
and  notify  you.  You  are  allowed  twenty  minutes. 
That  is  satisfactory  ?  " 

A  bath,  now ! 

"  No,  certainly  not,"  I  blurted.  "  I  have  no  time 
nor  inclination  for  a  bath,  at  present.  And,"  I  fal 
tered,  ashamed,  "  I'll  have  to  ask  you  to  refund  me 
the  dollar  and  a  half.  I  haven't  a  cent." 

"  Under  the  circumstances  I  can  do  that,  although 
it  is  against  our  rules,"  he  replied.  "  Here  it  is,  sir. 
We  wish  to  accommodate." 

"  And  will  you  advance  me  twenty  dollars,  say, 
until  I  shall  have  procured  funds  from  the  East  ?  "  I 
ventured. 

A  mask  fell  over  his  face.    He  slightly  smiled. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  cannot.    We  never  advance  money." 

"  But  I've  got  to  have  money,  to  tide  me  over, 
man,"  I  pleaded.  "  This  dollar  and  a  half  will  barely 
pay  for  a  meal.  I  can  give  you  references " 

"  From  Colonel  Sunderson,  may  I  ask  ? "  His 
voice  was  poised  tentatively. 

"  No.  I  never  saw  the  Colonel  before.  My  refer 
ences  are  Eastern.  My  father " 

"As  a  gentleman  the  Colonel  is  O.  K.,"  he  smoothly 
interrupted.  "  I  do  not  question  his  integrity,  nor 
your  father's.  But  we  never  advance  money.  It  is 
against  the  policy  of  the  house." 


98  DESERT  DUST 

"  Has  my  trunk  come  up  yet  ?  "  I  queried. 

"  Yes,  sir.  If  you'd  rather  have  it  in  your, 
room " 

"  In  my  room! "  said  I.  "  No!  Else  it  might  walk 
out  the  hall  window,  too.  You  have  it  safe?  " 

"  Perfectly,  except  in  case  of  burglary  or  fire.  It 
is  out  of  the  weather.  We're  not  responsible  for 
theft  or  fire,  you  understand.  Not  in  Benton." 

"Good  Lord!"  I  ejaculated,  weak.  "You  have 
my  trunk,  you  say?  Very  good.  Will  you  advance 
me  twenty  dollars  and  keep  the  trunk  as  security? 
That,  I  think,  is  a  sporting  proposition." 

He  eyed  me  up  and  down. 

"  Are  you  a  surveyor  ?  Connected  with  the 
road?" 

"  No." 

"What  is  your  business,  then?" 

"  I'm  a  damned  fool,"  I  confessed.  "  I'm  a  gud 
geon — I'm  a  come-on.  In  fact,  as  I've  said  before, 
I'm  out  here  looking  for  health,  where  it's  high  and 
dry."  He  smiled.  "  And  high  and  dry  I'm  landed  in 
short  order.  But  the  trunk's  not  empty.  Will  you 
keep  it  and  lend  me  twenty  dollars?  I  presume  that 
trunk  and  contents  are  worth  two  hundred." 

"  I'll  speak  with  the  porter,"  he  answered. 

By  the  lapse  of  time  between  his  departure  and  his 
return  he  and  the  gnome  evidently  had  hefted  the 
trunk  and  viewed  it  at  all  angles.  Now  he  came  back 
with  quick  step. 


"  HIGH  AND  DRY  "  99 

"  Yes,  sir ;  we'll  advance  you  twenty  dollars  on 
your  trunk.  Here  is  the  money,  sir."  He  wrote,  and 
passed  me  a  slip  of  paper  also.  "  And  your  receipt. 
When  you  pay  the  twenty  dollars,  if  within  thirty 
days,  you  can  have  your  trunk." 

"  And  if  not?  "  I  asked  uncomfortably. 

"  We  shall  be  privileged  to  dispose  of  it.  We  are 
not  in  the  pawn  business,  but  we  have  trunks  piled  to 
the  ceiling  in  our  storeroom,  left  by  gentlemen  in 
embarrassed  circumstances  like  yours." 

I  never  saw  that  trunk  again,  either.  However,  of 
this,  more  anon.  At  that  juncture  I  was  only  too  glad 
to  get  the  twenty  dollars,  pending  the  time  when  I 
should  be  recouped  from  home;  for  I  could  see  that 
to  be  stranded  "  high  and  dry "  in  Benton  City  of 
Wyoming  Territory  would  be  a  dire  situation.  And 
I  could  not  hope  for  much  from  home.  It  was  a  bit 
ter  dose  to  have  to  ask  for  further  help.  Three  years 
returned  from  the  war  my  father  had  scarcely  yet 
been  enabled  to  gather  the  loose  ends  of  his  former 
affairs. 

"  Now  if  you  will  direct  me  to  the  telegraph  of 
fice  ?  "  I  suggested. 

"  The  telegraph  into  Benton  is  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  line,"  he  informed ;  "  and  that  is  open  to  only 
Government  and  official  business.  If  you  wish  to 
send  a  private  dispatch  you  should  forward  it  by  post 
to  Cheyenne,  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles, 
where  it  will  be  put  on  the  Overland  branch  line  for 


ioo  DESERT  DUST 

the  East  by  way  of  Denver.  The  rate  to  New  York 
is  eight  dollars,  prepaid." 

I  knew  that  my  face  fell.  Eight  dollars  would 
make  a  large  hole  in  my  slender  funds — I  had  been 
foolish  not  to  have  borrowed  fifty  dollars  on  the 
trunk.  So  I  decided  to  write  instead  of  telegraph; 
and  with  him  watching  me  I  endeavored  to  speak 
lightly. 

"  Thank  you.  Now  where  will  I  find  the  place 
known  as  the  Big  Tent  ?  " 

He  laughed  with  peculiar  emphasis. 

"If  you  had  mentioned  the  Big  Tent  sooner  you'd 
have  got  no  twenty  dollars  from  me,  sir.  Not  that 
I've  anything  against  it,  understand.  It's  all  right, 
everybody  goes  there;  perfectly  legitimate.  I  go 
there  myself.  And  you  may  redeem  your  trunk  to 
morrow  and  be  buying  champagne." 

"  I  am  to  meet  a  friend  at  the  Big  Tent,"  I  stiffly 
explained.  "  Further  than  that  I  have  no  business 
there.  I  know  nothing  whatever  about  it." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir.  No  offense  intended. 
The  Big  Tent  is  highly  regarded — a  great  place  to 
spend  a  pleasant  evening.  All  Benton  indulges.  I 
wish  you  the  best  of  luck,  sir.  You  are  heeled,  I  see. 
No  one  will  take  you  for  a  pilgrim."  Despite  the  as 
sertion  there  was  a  twinkle  in  his  eye.  "  You  will 
find  the  Big  Tent  one  block  and  a  half  down  this 
street.  You  cannot  miss  it." 


CHAPTER  VII 

I   GO  TO   RENDEZVOUS 

THE  hotel  lamps  were  being  lighted  by  the  gnome 
porter.  When  I  stepped  outside  twilight  had  deep 
ened  into  dusk,  the  air  was  almost  frosty,  and  this 
main  street  had  been  made  garish  by  its  nightly  illu 
mination. 

It  was  a  strange  sight,  as  I  paused  for  a  moment 
upon  the  plank  veranda.  The  near  vicinity  resembled 
a  fair.  As  if  inspired  by  the  freshness  and  coolness 
of  the  new  air  the  people  were  trooping  to  and  fro 
more  restlessly  than  ever,  and  in  greater  numbers. 
All  up  and  down  the  street  coal-oil  torches  or  flam 
beaus,  ruddily  embossing  the  heads  of  the  players  and 
onlookers,  flared  like  votive  braziers  above  the  open- 
air  gambling  games;  there  were  even  smoked-chim 
ney  lamps,  and  candles,  set  on  pedestals,  signalizing 
other  centers.  The  walls  of  the  tent  store-buildings 
glowed  spectral  from  the  lights  to  be  glimpsed 
through  doorways  and  windows,  and  grotesque,  gi 
gantic  figures  flitted  in  silhouette.  While  through  the 
interstices  between  the  buildings  I  might  see  other 
structures,  ranging  from  those  of  tolerable  size  to 
simple  wall  tents  and  makeshift  shacks,  eerily  shad 
owed. 


102  DESERT  DUST 

The  noise  had,  if  anything,  redoubled.  To  the  ex 
clamations,  the  riotous  shouts  and  whoops,  the  gen 
eral  gay  vociferations  and  the  footsteps  of  a  busy  peo 
ple,  the  harangues  of  the  barkers,  the  more  distant 
puffing  and  shrieking  of  the  locomotives  at  the  rail 
road  yards,  the  hammering  where  men  and  boys 
worked  by  torchlight,  and  now  and  then  a  revolver 
shot,  there  had  been  added  the  inciting  music  of 
stringed  instruments,  cymbals,  and  such — some  in 
dance  measures,  some  solo,  while  immediately  at  hand 
sounded  the  shuffling  stamp  of  waltz,  hoe-down  and 
cotillion. 

Night  at  Benton  plainly  had  begun  with  a  gusto. 
It  stirred  one's  blood.  It  called — it  summoned  with 
such  a  promise  of  variety,  of  adventure,  of  flotsam 
and  jetsam  and  shuttlecock  of  chances,  that  I,  a  youth 
with  twenty-one  dollars  and  a  half  at  disposal,  all  his 
clothes  on  his  back,  a  man's  weapon  at  his  belt,  and 
an  appointment  with  a  lady  as  his  future,  forgetful 
of  past  and  courageous  in  present,  strode  confidently, 
even  recklessly  down,  as  eager  as  one  to  the  manners 
of  the  country  born. 

The  mysterious  allusions  to  the  Big  Tent  now 
piqued  me.  It  was  a  rendezvous,  popular,  I  deemed, 
and  respectable,  as  assured.  An  amusement  place, 
judging  by  the  talk;  superior,  undoubtedly,  to  other 
resorts  that  I  may  have  noted.  I  was  well  equipped 
to  test  it  out,  for  I  had  little  to  lose,  even  time  was  of 
no  moment,  and  I  possessed  a  friend  at  court,  there, 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  103 

whom  I  had  interested  and  who  very  agreeably  inter 
ested  me.  This  single  factor  would  have  glorified 
with  a  halo  any  tent,  big  or  little,  in  Benton. 

There  was  no  need  for  me  to  inquire  my  way  to  the 
Big  Tent.  Upon  pushing  along  down  the  street,  be 
set  upon  my  course  by  many  sights  and  proffered  al 
lurements,  and  keenly  alive  to  the  romance  of  that 
hurly-burly  of  pleasure  and  business  combined  here 
two  thousand  miles  west  of  New  York,  always  ex 
pectant  of  my  goal  I  was  attracted  by  music  again, 
just  ahead,  from  an  orchestra.  I  saw  a  large  canvas 
sign — The  Big  Tent — suspended  in  the  full  shine  of 
a  locomotive  reflector.  Beneath  it  the  people  were 
streaming  into  the  wide  entrance  to  a  great  canvas 
hall. 

Quickening  my  pace  in  accord  with  the  increased 
pace  of  the  throng,  presently  I  likewise  entered,  un 
challenged  for  any  admission  fee.  Once  across  the 
threshold,  I  halted,  taken  all  aback  by  the  hubbub  and 
the  kaleidoscopic  spectacle  that  beat  upon  my  ears  and 
eyes. 

The  interior,  high  ceilinged  to  the  ridged  roof,  was 
unbroken  by  supports.  It  was  lighted  by  two  score 
of  lamps  and  reflectors  in  brackets  along  the  walls  and 
hanging  as  chandeliers  from  the  rafters.  The  floor, 
of  planed  boards,  already  teemed  with  men  and 
women  and  children — along  one  side  there  was  an  or 
nate  bar  glittering  with  cut  glass  and  silver  and 
backed  by  a  large  plate  mirror  that  repeated  the  lights, 


104  DESERT  DUST 

the  people,  the  glasses,  decanters  and  pitchers,  and 
the  figures  of  the  white-coated,  busy  bartenders. 

At  the  farther  end  of  the  room  a  stringed  orchestra 
was  stationed  upon  a  platform,  while  to  the  bidding 
of  the  music  women,  and  men  with  hats  upon  their 
heads  and  cigars  in  mouths,  and  men  together, 
whirled  in  couples,  so  that  the  floor  trembled  to  the 
boot  heels.  Scattered  thickly  over  the  intervening 
space  there  were  games  of  chance,  every  description, 
surrounded  'by  groups  looking  on  or  playing. 
Through  the  atmosphere  blue  with  the  smoke 
women,  many  of  them  lavishly  costumed  as  if  for  a 
ball,  strolled  risking  or  responding  to  gallantries. 
The  garb  of  the  men  themselves  ran  the  scale:  from 
the  comme  il  faut  of  slender  shoes,  fashionably  cut 
coats  and  pantaloons,  and  modish  cravats,  through  the 
campaign  uniforms  of  army  officers  and  enlisted  men, 
to  the  frontier  corduroy  and  buckskin  of  surveyors 
and  adventurers,  the  flannel  shirts,  red,  blue  and  gray, 
the  jeans  and  cowhide  boots  of  trainmen,  teamsters, 
graders,  miners,  and  all. 

From  nearly  every  waist  dangled  a  revolver.  I  re 
marked  that  not  a  few  of  the  women  displayed  little 
weapons  as  in  bravado. 

What  with  the  music,  the  stamp  of  the  dancers,  the 
clink  of  glasses  and  the  ice  in  pitchers,  the  rattle  of 
dice,  the  slap  of  cards  and  currency,  the  announce 
ments  of  the  dealers,  the  clap-trap  of  barkers  and 
monte  spielers,  the  general  chatter  of  voices,  one 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  105 

such  as  I,  a  newcomer,  scarcely  knew  which  way  to 
turn. 

Altogether  this  was  an  amusement  palace  which, 
though  rough  of  exterior,  eclipsed  the  best  of  the 
Bowery  and  might  be  found  elsewhere,  I  imagined, 
not  short  of  San  Francisco. 

From  the  jostle  of  the  doorway  to  pick  out  upon 
the  floor  any  single  figure  and  follow  it  was  well- 
nigh  impossible.  Not  seeing  my  Lady  in  Black,  at 
first  sight — not  being  certain  of  her,  that  is,  for  there 
were  a  number  of  black  dresses — I  moved  on  in.  It 
might  be  that  she  was  among  the  dancers,  where,  as 
I  could  determine  by  the  vista,  beauty  appeared  to  be 
whirling  around  in  the  embrace  of  the  whiskered 
beast. 

Then,  as  I  advanced  resolutely  among  the  gaming 
tables,  I  felt  a  cuff  upon  the  shoulder  and  heard  a 
bluff  voice  in  my  ear. 

"Hello,  old  hoss.  How  are  tricks  by  this 
time?" 

Facing  about  quickly  with  apprehension  of  having 
been  spotted  by  another  capper,  if  not  Bill  Brady  him 
self  (for  the  voice  was  not  Colonel  Sunderson's  unc 
tuous  tones)  I  saw  Jim  of  the  Sidney  station  plat 
form  and  the  railway  coach  fracas. 

He  was  grinning  affably,  apparently  none  the  worse 
for  wear  save  a  slightly  swollen  lower  lip;  he  seemed 
in  good  humor. 

"  Shake,"  he  proffered,  extending  his  hand.     "  No 


io6  DESERT  DUST 

hard  feelin's  here.  I'm  no  Injun.  You  knocked  the 
red-eye  out  o'  me." 

I  shook  hands  with  him,  and  again  he  slapped  me 
upon  the  shoulder.  "  Hardly  knowed  you  in  that 
new.  rig.  Now  you're  talkin'.  That's  sense.  Well^ 
how  you  comin'  on  ?  " 

"  First  rate,"  I  assured,  not  a  little  nonplussed  by 
this  greeting  from  a  man  whom  I  had  knocked  down, 
tipsy  drunk,  only  a  few  hours  before.  But  evidently 
he  was  a  seasoned  customer. 

"  Bucked  the  tiger  a  leetle,  I  reckon  ?  "  And  he 
leered  cunningly. 

"  No ;  I  rarely  gamble." 

"Aw,  tell  that  to  the  marines."  Once  more  he 
jovially  clapped  me.  "  A  young  gent  like  you  has  to 
take  a  fling  now  and  then.  Hell,  this  is  Benton, 
where  everything  goes  and  nobody  the  worse  for  it. 
You  bet  yuh!  Trail  along  with  me.  Let's  likker. 
Then  I'll  show  you  the  ropes.  I  like  your  style.  Yes, 
sir;  I  know  a  man  when  I  see  him."  And  he  swore 
freely. 

"  Another  time,  sir,"  I  begged  off.  "  I  have  an  en 
gagement  this  evening " 

"  O*  course  you  have.  Don't  I  know  that,  too,  by 
Gawd?  The  when,  where  and  who?  Didn't  she  tell 
me  to  keep  my  eyes  skinned  for  you,  and  to  cotton  to 
you  when  you  come  in?  We'll  find  her,  after  we 
likker  up." 

"She  did?" 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  107 

"Why  not?  Ain't  I  a  friend  o'  hern?  You  bet! 
Finest  little  woman  in  Benton.  Trail  to  the  trough 
along  with  me,  pardner,  and  name  your  favor-ite. 
I've  got  a  thirst  like  a  Sioux  buck  with  a  robe  to 
trade." 

"  I'd  rather  not  drink,  thank  you,"  I  essayed ;  but 
he  would  have  none  of  it.  He  seized  me  by  the  arm 
and  hustled  me  on. 

"  O'  course  you'll  drink.  Any  gent  I  ax  to  drink 
has  gotto  drink.  Name  your  pizen — make  it  cham 
pagne,  if  that's  your  brand.  But  the  drinks  are  on 
me." 

So  willy-nilly  I  was  brought  to  the  bar,  where  the 
line  of  men  already  loafing  there  made  space. 

"  Straight  goods  and  the  best  you've  got,"  my  self- 
appointed  pilot  blared.  "  None  o'  your  agency  whis 
key,  either.  What's  yourn  ?  "  he  asked  of  me. 

"  The  same  as  yours,  sir,"  I  bravely  replied. 

With  never  a  word  the  bartender  shoved  bottle  and 
glasses  to  us.  Jim  rather  unsteadily  filled ;  I  emulated, 
but  to  scanter  measure. 

"  Here's  how,"  he  volunteered.  "  May  you  never 
see  the  back  of  your  neck." 

"  Your  health,"  I  responded. 

We  drank. 'The  stuff  may  have  been  pure;  at  least 
it  was  stout  and  cut  fiery  way  down  my  unwonted 
throat;  the  one  draught  infused  me  with  a  swagger 
and  a  sudden  rosy  view  of  life  through  a  temporary 
mist  of  watering  eyes. 


io8  DESERT  DUST 

"A-ah!  That  puts  guts  into  a  man,"  quoth  Jim. 
"  Shall  we  have  another  ?  One  more  ?  " 

"  Not  now.  The  next  shall  be  on  me.  Let's  look 
around,"  I  gasped. 

"We'll  find  her,"  he  promised.  "Take  a  stroll. 
I'll  steer  you  right.  Have  a  seegar,  anyway." 

As  smoking  vied  with  drinking,  here  in  the  Big 
Tent  where  even  the  dancers  cavorted  with  lighted 
cigars  in  their  mouths,  I  saw  fit  to  humor  him. 

"  Cigars  it  shall  be,  then.  But  I'll  pay."  And  to 
my  nod  the  bartender  set  out  a  box,  from  which  we 
selected  at  twenty-five  cents  each.  With  my  own 
"  seegar "  cocked  up  between  my  lips,  and  my  re 
volver  adequately  heavy  at  my  belt,  I  suffered  the 
guidance  of  the  importunate  Jim. 

We  wended  leisurely  among  games  of  infinite  va 
riety:  keno,  rondo  coolo,  poker,  faro,  roulette,  monte, 
chuck-a-luck,  wheels  of  fortune — advertised,  some,  by 
their  barkers,  but  the  better  class  (if  there  is  such  a 
distinction)  presided  over  by  remarkably  quiet,  white- 
faced,  nimble-fingered,  steady-eyed  gentry  in  irre 
proachable  garb  running  much  to  white  shirts,  black 
pantaloons,  velvet  waistcoats,  and  polished  boots,  and 
diamonds  and  gold  chains  worn  unaffectedly;  low- 
voiced  gentry,  these,  protected,  it  would  appear, 
mainly  by  their  lookouts  perched  at  their  sides  with 
eyes  alert  to  read  faces  and  to  watch  the  play. 

We  had  by  no  means  completed  the  tour,  inter 
rupted  by  many  jests  and  nods  exchanged  between 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  109 

Jim  and  sundry  of  the  patrons,  when  we  indeed  met 
My;  Lady.  She  detached  herself,  as  if  cognizant  of 
our  approach,  from  a  little  group  of  four  or  five 
standing  upon  the  floor ;  and  turned  for  me  with  hand 
outstretched,  a  gratifying  flush  upon  her  spirited 
face. 

"  You  are  here,  then  ?  "  she  greeted. 

I  made  a  leg,  with  my  best  bow,  not  omitting  to 
remove  hat  and  cigar,  while  agreeably  conscious  of 
her  approving  gaze. 

"  I  am  here,  madam,  in  the  Big  Tent." 

Her  small  warm  hand  acted  as  if  unreservedly 
mine,  for  the  moment.  About  her  there  was  a  tin 
gling  element  of  the  friendly,  even  of  the  intimate. 
She  was  a  haven  in  a  strange  coast. 

"  Told  you  I'd  find  him,  didn't  I  ?  "  Jim  asserted— 
the  bystanders  listening  curiously.  "  There  he  was, 
lookin'  as  lonesome  as  a  two-bit  piece  on  a  poker  table 
in  a  sky-limit  game.  So  we  had  a  drink  and  a  seegar, 
and  been  makin'  the  grand  tower." 

"  You  got  your  outfit,  I  see,"  she  smiled. 

"  Yes.    Am  I  correct  ?  " 

"  You  have  saved  yourself  annoyance.  You'll  do," 
she  nodded.  "Have  you  played  yet?  Win,  or 
lose?" 

"  I  did  not  come  to  play,  madam,"  said  I.  "  Not 
at  table,  that  is."  Whereupon  I  must  have  returned 
her  gaze  so  glowingly  as  to  embarrass  her.  Yet  she 
was  not  displeased;  and  in  that  costume  and  with 


I  io  DESERT  DUST 

that  liquor  still  coursing  through  my  veins  I  felt  equal 
to  any  retort. 

"  But  you  should  play.    You  are  heeled  ?  " 

"  The  best  I  could  procure."  I  let  my  hand  rest 
casually  upon  my  revolver  butt. 

She  laughed  merrily.    There  were  smiles  aside. 

"  Oh,  no ;  I  didn't  mean  that.  You  are  heeled  for 
all  to  see.  I  meant,  you  have  funds?  You  didn't 
come  here  too  light,  did  you?  " 

"  I  am  prepared  for  all  emergencies,  madam,  cer 
tainly,"  I  averred  with  proper  dignity.  Not  for  the 
world  would  I  have  confessed  otherwise.  Sooth  to 
say,  I  had  the  sensation  of  boundless  wealth.  The 
affair  at  the  hotel  did  not  bother  me,  now.  Here  in 
the  Big  Tent  prosperity  reigned.  Money,  money, 
money  was  passing  back  and  forth,  carelessly  shoved 
out  and  carelessly  pocketed  or  piled  up,  while  the 
band  played  and  the  people  laughed  and  drank  and 
danced  and  bragged  and  staked,  and  laughed  again. 

"  That  is  good.  Shall  we  walk  a  little?  And  when 
you  play — come  here."  We  stepped  apart  from  the 
listeners.  "  When  you  play,  follow  the  lead  of  Jim. 
He'll  not  lose,  and  I  intend  that  you  shan't,  either. 
But  you  must  play,  for  the  sport  of  it.  Everybody 
games,  in  Benton." 

"  So  I  judge,  madam,"  I  assented.  "  Under  your 
chaperonage  I  am  ready  to  take  any  risks,  the  gaming 
table  being  among  the  least." 

"  Prettily  said,  sir,"  she  complimented.    "  And  you 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  in 

won't  lose.  No,"  she  repeated  suggestively,  "  you 
won't  lose,  with  me  looking  out  for  you.  Jim  bears 
you  no  ill  will.  He  recognizes  a  man  when  he  meets 
him,  even  when  the  proof  is  uncomfortable." 

"  For  that  little  episode  on  the  train  I  ask  no  re 
ward,  madam,"  said  I. 

"  Of  course  not."  Her  tone  waxed  impatient. 
"  However,  you're  a  stranger  in  Benton  and  strangers 
do  not  always  fare  well."  In  this  she  spoke  the  truth. 
"  As  a  resident  I  claim  the  honors.  Let  us  be  old  ac 
quaintances.  Shall  we  walk?  Or  would  you  rather 
dance  ?  " 

"  I'd  cut  a  sorry  figure  dancing  in  boots,"  said  I. 
"  Therefore  I'd  really  prefer  to  walk,  if  all  the  same 
to  you." 

"  Thank  you  for  having  mercy  on  my  poor  feet. 
Walk  we  will." 

"May  I  get  you  some  refreshment?"  I  hazarded. 
"  A  lemonade — or  something  stronger  ?  " 

"  Not  for  you,  sir;  not  again,"  she  laughed.  "  You 
are,  as  Jim  would  say,  '  fortified.'  And  I  shall  need 
all  my  wits  to  keep  you  from  being  tolled  away  by 
greater  attractions." 

With  that,  she  accepted  my  arm.  We  promenaded, 
Jim  sauntering  near.  And  as  she  emphatically  was 
the  superior  of  all  other  women  upon  the  floor  I  did 
not  fail  to  dilate  with  the  distinction  accorded  me: 
felt  it  in  the  glances,  the  deference  and  the  ready 
make-way  which  attended  upon  our  progress. 


H2  DESERT  DUST 

Frankly  to  say,  possibly  I  strutted — as  a  young  man 
will  when  "  fortified "  within  and  without  and  ele 
vated  from  the  station  of  nondescript  stranger  to  that 
of  favored  beau. 

Whereas  an  hour  before  I  had  been  crushed  and 
beggarly,  now  I  turned  out  my  toes  and  stepped 
bravely — my  twenty-one  dollars  in  pocket,  my  six- 
shooter  at  belt,  a  red  'kerchief  at  throat,  the  queen  of 
the  hall  on  my  arm,  and  my  trunk  all  unnecessary  to 
my  well-being. 

Thus  in  easy  fashion  we  moved  amidst  eyes  and 
salutations  from  the  various  degrees  of  the  company. 
She  made  no  mention  of  any  husband,  which  might 
have  been  odd  in  the  East  but  did  not  impress  me  as 
especially  odd  here  in  the  democratic  Far  West.  The 
women  appeared  to  have  an  independence  of  ac 
tion. 

"  Shall  we  risk  a  play  or  two  ? "  she  proposed. 
"  Are  you  acquainted  with  three-card  monte  ?  " 

"  Indifferently,  madam,"  said  I.  "  But  I  am  green 
at  all  gambling  devices." 

"  You  shall  learn,"  she  encouraged  lightly.  "  In 
Benton  as  in  Rome,  you  know.  There  is  no  disgrace 
attached  to  laying  down  a  dollar  here  and  there — we 
all  do  it.  That  is  part  of  our  amusement,  in  Benton." 
She  halted.  "  You  are  game,  sir?  What  is  life  but  a 
series  of  chances?  Are  you  disposed  to  win  a  little 
and  flout  the  danger  of  losing?  " 

"I  am  in  Benton  to  win,"   I  valiantly  asserted. 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  113 

"And  if  under  your  direction,  so  much  the  quicker. 
What  first,  then?  The  three-card  monte?  " 

"  It  is  the  simplest.  Faro  would  be  beyond  you  yet. 
Rondo  coolo  is  boisterous  and  confusing — and  as  for 
poker,  that  is  a  long  session  of  nerves,  while  chuck-a- 
luck,  though  all  in  the  open,  is  for  children  and  fools. 
You  might  .throw  the  dice  a  thousand  times  and  never 
cast  a  lucky  combination.  Roulette  is  as  bad.  The 
percentage  in  favor  of  the  bank  in  a  square  game  is 
forty  per  cent,  better  than  stealing.  I'll  initiate  you 
on  monte.  Are  your  eyes  quick?  " 

"  For  some  things,"  I  replied  meaningly. 

She  conducted  me  to  the  nearest  monte  game, 
where  the  "  spieler " — a  smooth-faced  lad  of  not 
more  than  nineteen — sat  behind  his  three-legged  lit 
tle  table,  green  covered,  and  idly  shifting  the  cards 
about  maintained  a  rather  bored  flow  of  conversa 
tional  incitement  to  bets. 

As  happened,  he  was  illy  patronized  at  the  mo 
ment.  There  were  not  more  than  three  or  four  on 
lookers,  none  risking  but  all  waiting  apparently  upon 
one  another. 

At  our  arrival  the  youth  glanced  up  with  the  most 
innocent  pair  of  long-lashed  brown  eyes  that  I  ever 
had  seen.  A  handsome  boy  he  was. 

"  Hello,  Bob." 

He  smiled,  with  white  teeth. 

"  Hello  yourself." 

My  Lady  and  he  seemed  to  know  each  other. 


H4  DESERT  DUST 

"  How  goes  it  to-night,  Bob?  " 

"  Slow.  There's  no  nerve  or  money  in  this  camp 
any  more.  She's  a  dead  one." 

"  I'll  not  have  Benton  slandered,"  My  Lady  gaily 
retorted.  "  We'll  buck  your  game,  Bob.  But  you 
must  be  easy  on  us.  We're  green  yet." 

Bob  shot  a  quick  glance  at  me — in  one  look  had 
read  me  from  hat  to  boots.  He  had  shrewder  eyes 
than  their  first  languor  intimated. 

"  Pleased  to  accommodate  you,  I'm  sure,"  he  an 
swered.  "  The  greenies  stand  as  good  a  show  at  this 
board  as  the  profesh." 

"  Will  you  play  for  a  dollar  ?  "  she  challenged. 

"  I'll  play  for  two  bits,  to-night.  Anything  to  start 
action."  He  twisted  his  mouth  with  ready  chagrin. 
"  I'm  about  ripe  to  bet  against  myself." 

She  fumbled  at  her  reticule,  but  I  was  before 
hand. 

"  No,  no."  And  I  fished  into  my  pocket.  "  Allow 
me.  I  will  furnish  the  funds  if  you  will  do  the  play- 
ing." 

"I  choose  the  card?"  said  she.  "That  is  up  to 
you,  sir. .  You  are  to  learn." 

"  By  watching,  at  first,"  I  protested.  "  We  should 
be  partners." 

"  Well,"  she  consented,  "  if  you  say  so.  Partners 
it  is.  A  lady  brings  luck,  but  I  shall  not  always  do 
your  playing  for  you,  sir.  That  kind  of  partnership 
comes  to  grief." 


I  GO  TO  RENDEZVOUS  115 

"  I  am  hopeful  of  playing  on  my  own  score,  in  due 
time,"  I  responded.  "  As  you  will  see." 

"  What's  the  card,  Bob  ?  We've  a  dollar  on  it,  as 
a  starter." 

He  eyed  her,  while  facing  the  cards  up. 

"  The  ace.  You  see  it — the  ace,  backed  by  ten  and 
deuce.  Here  it  is.  All  ready  ? "  He  turned  them 
down,  in  order;  methodically,  even  listlessly  moved 
them  to  and  fro,  yet  with  light,  sure,  well-nigh  be 
wildering  touch.  Suddenly  lifted  his  hands.  "  All 
set.  A  dollar  you  don't  face  up  the  ace  at  first  try." 

She  laughed,  bantering. 

"  Oh,  Bob !  You're  too  easy.  I  wonder  you  aren't 
broke.  You're  no  monte  spieler.  Is  this  your  best  ?  " 

And  I  believed  that  I  myself  knew  which  card  was 
the  ace. 

"  You  hear  me,  and  there's  my  dollar."  He  coolly 
waited. 

"  Not  yours ;  ours.    Will  you  make  it  five  ?  " 

"  One  is  my  limit  on  this  throw.    You  named  it." 

"  Oho !  "  With  a  dart  of  hand  she  had  turned  up 
the  middle  card,  exposing  the  ace  spot,  as  I  had  an 
ticipated.  She  swept  the  two  dollars  to  her. 

"  Adios,"  she  bade. 

He  smiled,  indulgent. 

"  So  soon  ?  Don't  I  get  my  revenge  ?  You,  sir." 
And  he  appealed  to  me.  "  You  see  how  easy  it  is. 
I'll  throw  you  a  turn  for  a  dollar,  two  dollars,  five 
dollars — anything  to  combine  business  and  pleasure. 


n6  DESERT  DUST 

Whether  I  win  or  lose  I  don't  care.  You'll  follow 
the  lead  of  the  lady  ?  What  ?  " 

I  was  on  fire  to  accept,  but  she  stayed  me. 

"  Not  now.  I'm  showing  him  around,  Bob.  You'll 
get  your  revenge  later.  Good-bye.  I've  drummed  up 
trade  for  you." 

As  if  inspired  by  the  winning  several  of  the  by 
standers,  some  newly  arrived,  had  money  in  their 
hands,  to  stake.  So  we  strolled  on;  and  I  was  con 
scious  that  the  youth's  brown  eyes  briefly  flicked  after 
us  with  a  peculiar  glint. 

"  Yours,"  she  said,  extending  the  coins  to  me. 

I  declined. 

"  No,  indeed.  It  is  part  of  my  tuition.  If  you  will 
play  I  will  stake." 

She  also  declined. 

"  I  can't  have  that.  You  will  at  least  take  your 
own  money  back." 

"  Only  for  another  try,  madam,"  I  assented. 

"In  that  case  we'll  find  a  livelier  game  yonder," 
said  she.  "Bob's  just  a  lazy  boy.  His  game  is  a 
piker  game.  He's  too  slow  to  learn  from.  Let  us 
watch  a  real  game." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN 

JIM  had  disappeared ;  until  when  we  had  made  way 
to  another  monte  table  there  he  was,  his  hands  in  his 
pockets,  his  cigar  half  smoked. 

More  of  a  crowd  was  here ;  the  voice  of  the  spieler 
more  insistent,  yet  low-pitched  and  businesslike.  He 
was  a  study — a  square-shouldered,  well  set-up,  wiry 
man  of  olive  complexion,  finely  chiseled  features  save 
for  nose  somewhat  cruelly  beaked,  of  short  black 
moustache,  dead  black  long  wavy  hair,  and,  placed 
boldly  wide,  contrastive  hard  gray  eyes  that  lent  at 
mosphere  of  coldness  to  his  face.  His  hat  was  pulled 
down  over  his  forehead,  he  held  an  unlighted  cigar 
between  his  teeth  while  he  mechanically  spoke  and 
shifted  the  three  cards  (a  diamond  flashing  from  a 
ringer)  upon  the  baize-covered  little  table. 

Money  had  been  wagered.  He  had  just  raked  in  a 
few  notes,  adding  them  to  his  pile.  His  monotone 
droned  on. 

"  Next,  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Sometimes  I  win, 
sometimes  I  lose.  That  is  my  business.  The  play  is 
yours.  You  may  think  I  have  two  chances  to  your 


Ii8  DESERT  DUST 

one;  that  is  not  so.  You  make  the  choice.  Always 
the  queen,  always  the  queen.  You  have  only  to  watch 
the  queen,  one  card.  I  have  to  watch  three  cards. 
You  have  your  two  eyes,  I  have  my  two  hands.  You 
spot  the  card  only  when  you  think  you  can.  I  meet 
all  comers.  It  is  an  even  gamble." 

Jim  remarked  us  as  we  joined. 

"  How  you  comin'  now  ?  "  he  greeted  of  me. 

"  We  won  a  dollar,"  My  Lady  responded. 

"  Not  I.    She  did  the  choosing,"  I  corrected. 

"  But  you  would  have  chosen  the  same  card,  you 
said,"  she  prompted.  "  You  saw  how  easy  it  was." 

"  Easy  if  you  know  how,"  Jim  asserted.  "  Think 
to  stake  a  leetle  here?  I've  been  keepin'  cases  and 
luck's  breaking  ag'in  the  bank  to-night,  by  gosh. 
Made  several  turns,  myself,  already." 

"  We'll  wait  a  minute  till  we  get  his  system,"  she 
answered. 

"  Are  you  watching,  ladies  and  gentlemen  ?  "  bade 
the  dealer,  in  that  even  tone.  "  You  see  the  eight  of 
clubs,  the  eight  of  spades,  the  queen  of  hearts.  The 
queen  is  your  card.  My  hand  against  your  eyes,  then. 
You  are  set?  There  you  are.  Pick  the  queen,  some 
one  of  you.  Put  your  money  on  the  queen  of  hearts. 
You  can  turn  the  card  yourself.  What?  Nobody? 
Don't  be  pikers.  Let  us  have  a  little  sport.  Stake  a 
dollar.  Why,  you'd  toss  a  dollar  down  your  throat — 
you'd  lay  a  dollar  on  a  cockroach  race — you'd  bet  that 
much  on  a  yellow  dog  if  you  owned  him,  just  to  show 


I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  119 

your  spirit.  And  here  I'm  offering  you  a  straight 
proposition." 

With  a  muttered  "  I'll  go  you  another  turn,  Mis 
ter,"  Jim  stepped  closer  and  planked  down  a  dollar. 
The  dealer  cast  a  look  up  at  him  as  with  pleased  sur 
prise. 

"You,  sir?  Very  good.  You  have  spirit  Money 
talks.  Here  is  my  dollar.  Now,  to  prove  to  these 
other  people  what  a  good  guesser  you  are,  which  is 
the  queen  ?  " 

"  Here,"  Jim  said  confidently ;  and  sure  enough  he 
faced  up  the  queen  of  hearts. 

"  The  money's  yours.  You  never  earned  a  dollar 
quicker,  I'll  wager,  friend,"  the  dealer  acknowledged, 
imperturbable — for  he  evidently  was  one  who  never 
evinced  the  least  emotion,  whether  he  won  or  lost. 
"  Very  good.  Now " 

From  behind  him  a  man — a  newcomer  to  the  spot, 
who  looked  like  any  respectable  Eastern  merchant, 
being  well  dressed  and  grave  of  face — touched  him 
upon  the  shoulder.  He  turned  ear;  while  he  inclined 
farther  they  whispered  together,  and  I  witnessed  an 
arm  steal  swiftly  forward  at  my  side,  and  a  thumb 
and  finger  slightly  bend  up  the  extreme  corner  of  the 
queen.  The  hand  and  arm  vanished ;  when  the  dealer 
fronted  us  again  the  queen  was  apparently  just  as  be 
fore.  Only  we  who  had  seen  would  have  marked  the 
bent  corner. 

The  act  had  been  so  clever  and  so  audacious  that  I 


120  DESERT  DUST 

fairly  held  my  breath.  But  the  gambler  resumed  his 
flow  of  talk,  while  he  fingered  the  cards  as  if  totally 
unaware  that  they  had  been  tampered  with. 

"  Now,  again,  ladies  and  gentlemen.  You  see  how 
it  is  done.  You  back  your  eyes,  and  you  win.  I  find 
that  I  shall  have  to  close  early  to-night.  Make  your 
hay  while  the  sun  shines.  Who'll  be  in  on  this  turn? 
Watch  the  queen  of  hearts.  I  place  her  here.  I  coax 

the  three  cards  a  little "  he  gave  a  swift  flourish. 

"  There  they  are." 

His  audience  hesitated,  as  if  fearful  of  a  trick,  for 
the  bent  corner  of  the  queen,  raising  this  end  a 
little,  was  plain  to  us  who  knew.  It  was  absurdly 
plain. 

"  I'll  go  you  another,  Mister,"  Jim  responded. 
"  I'll  pick  out  the  queen  ag'in  for  a  dollar." 

The  gambler  smiled  grimly  and  shrugged  his  shoul 
ders. 

"  Oh,  pshaw,  sir.  These  are  small  stakes.  You'll 
never  get  rich  at  that  rate  and  neither  shall  I." 

"  I  reckon  I  can  set  my  own  limit,"  Jim  grumbled. 

"  Yes,  sir.  But  let's  have  action.  Who'll  join  this 
gentleman  in  his  guess?  Who'll  back  his  luck?  He's 
a  winner,  I  admit  that." 

The  gray  eyes  dwelt  upon  face  and  face  of  our 
half  circle;  and  still  I,  too,  hesitated,  although  my  dol 
lar  was  burning  a  hole  in  my  pocket. 

My  Lady  whispered  to  me. 

"All's  fair  in  love  and  war.     Here — put  this  on, 


I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  121 

with  yours,  for  me."  She  slipped  a  dollar  of  her  own 
into  my  hand. 

Another  man  stepped  forward.  He  was,  I  judged, 
a  teamster.  His  clothes,  of  flannel  shirt,  belted 
trousers  and  six-shooter  and  dusty  boots,  so  indi 
cated.  And  his  beard  was  shaggy  and  unkempt,  al 
most  covering  his  face  underneath  his  drooping 
slouch  hat. 

"  I'll  stake  you  a  dollar,"  he  said. 

"  Two  from  me,"  I  heard  myself  saying,  and  I  saw 
my  hand  depositing  them. 

"  You're  all  on  this  gentleman's  card,  remember  ?  " 

We  nodded.     The  bearded  man  tipped  me  a  wink. 

"  You,  sir,  then,  turn  the  queen  if  you  can,"  the 
gambler  challenged  of  Jim. 

With  quick  movement  Jim  flopped  the  bent-corner 
card,  and  the  queen  herself  seemed  to  wink  jovially 
at  us. 

The  gambler  exclaimed. 

"  By  God,  gentlemen,  but  you've  skinned  me  again. 
I'm  clumsy  to-night.  I'd  better  quit"  And  he 
scarcely  varied  his  level  tone  despite  the  chuckles  of 
the  crowd.  "  You  must  let  me  try  once  more.  But  I 
warn  you,  I  want  action.  I'm  willing  to  meet  any 
sum  you  stack  up  against  me,  if  it's  large  enough  to 
spell  action.  Shall  we  go  another  round  or  two  be 
fore  I  close  up  ? "  He  gathered  the  three  cards. 
"  You  see  the  queen — my  unlucky  queen  of  hearts. 
Here  she  is."  He  stowed  the  card  between  thumb  and 


122  DESERT  DUST 

finger.  "  Here  are  the  other  two."  He  held  them  up 
in  his  left  hand — the  eight  of  clubs,  the  eight  of 
spades.  He  transferred  them — with  his  rapid  motion 
he  strewed  the  three.  "  Choose  the  queen.  I  put  the 
game  to  you  fair  and  square.  There  are  the  cards. 
Maybe  you  can  read  their  backs.  That's  your  privi 
lege."  He  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  teamster.  "  You, 
sir;  where's  your  money,  half  of  which  was  mine?" 
He  glanced  at  Jim.  "  And  you,  sir  ?  You'll  follow 
your  luck?  "  Lastly  he  surveyed  me  with  a  flash  of 
steely  bravado.  "  And  you,  young  gentleman.  You 
came  in  before.  I  dare  you." 

The  bent  corner  was  more  pronounced  than  ever, 
as  if  aggravated  by  the  manipulations.  It  could  not 
possibly  be  mistaken  by  the  knowing.  And  a  sudden 
shame  possessed  me — a  glut  of  this  crafty  advantage 
to  which  I  was  stooping;  an  advantage  gained  not 
through  my  own  wit,  either,  but  through  the  dishon 
orable  trick  of  another. 

"  There's  your  half  from  me,  if  you  want  it,"  said 
Jim,  slapping  down  two  dollars.  "  This  is  my  night 
to  howl." 

The  teamster  backed  him. 

"  I'm  on  the  same  card,"  said  he. 

And  not  to  be  outdone — urged,  I  thought,  by  a 
pluck  at  my  sleeve — I  boldly  followed  with  my  own 
two  dollars,  reasoning  that  I  was  warranted  in  par 
tially  recouping,  for  Benton  owed  me  much. 

The  gambler  laughed  shortly.     His  gaze,  cool  and 


I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  123 

impertinent,  enveloped  our  front.  He  leaned  back, 
defiant. 

"  Give  me  a  chance,  gentlemen.  I  shall  not  pro 
ceed  with  the  play  for  that  picayune  sum  before  me. 
This  is  my  last  deal  and  I've  been  loser.  It's  make  or 
break.  Who  else  will  back  that  gentleman's  luck? 
I've  placed  the  cards  the  best  I  know  how.  But  six 
or  eight  dollars  is  no  money  to  me.  It  doesn't  pay  for 
floor  space.  Is  nobody  else  in?  What?  Come, 
come;  let's  have  some  sport.  I  dare  you.  This  time 
is  my  revenge  or  your  good  fortune.  Play  up,  gentle 
men.  Don't  be  crabbers."  He  smiled  sarcastically; 
his  words  stung.  "  This  isn't  pussy-in-a-corner.  It's 
a  game  of  wits.  You  wouldn't  bet  unless  you  felt 
cock-sure  of  winning.  I'll  give  you  one  minute, 
gentlemen,  before  calling  all  bets  off  unless  you  make 
the  pot  worth  while." 

The  threat  had  effect.  Nobody  wished  to  let  the 
marked  card  get  away.  That  was  not  human  nature. 
Bets  rained  in  upon  the  table — bank  notes,  silver  half 
dollars,  the  rarer  dollar  coins,  and  the  common  green 
backs.  He  met  each  wager,  while  he  sat  negligent  and 
half  smiled  and  chewed  his  unlighted  cigar. 

"  This  is  the  last  round,  gentlemen,"  he  reminded. 
"Are  you  all  in?  Don't  leave  with  regrets.  You," 
he  said,  direct  to  me.  "  Are  you  in  such  short  cir 
cumstances  that  you  have  no  spunk?  Why  did  you 
come  here,  sir,  if  not  to  win?  Why,  the  stakes  you 
play  would  not  buy  refreshment  for  the  lady !  " 


124  DESERT  DUST 

That  was  too  much.  I  threw  scruples  aside.  He 
had  badgered  me — he  was  there  to  win  if  he  could;  I 
now  was  hot  with  the  same  design.  I  extracted  my 
twenty-dollar  note,  and  deaf  to  a  quickly  breathed 
"  Wait  the  turn  "  from  My  Lady  I  planked  it  down 
before  him.  She  should  know  me  for  a  man  of  de 
cision. 

"  There,  sir,"  said  I.  "  I  am  betting  twenty-two 
dollars  in  all,  which  is  my  limit  to-night,  on  the  same 
right-end  card  as  I  stand." 

I  thought  that  I  had  him.  Forthwith  he  straight 
ened  alertly,  spoke  tartly. 

"  The  game  is  closed,  gentlemen.  Remember,  you 
are  wagering  on  the  first  turn.  There  are  no  splits  in 
monte.  Not  at  this  table.  Our  friend  says  the  right- 
end  card.  You,  sir,"  and  he  addressed  Jim.  "  They 
are  backing  you.  Which  do  you  say  is  the  queen? 
Lay  your  finger  on  her." 

Jim  so  did,  with  a  finger  stubby,  and  dirty  under 
the  nail. 

"  That  is  the  card,  is  it  ?  You  are  agreed  ?  "  he 
queried  us,  sweeping  his  cold  gray  eyes  from  face  to 
face.  "  We'll  have  no  crabbing." 

We  nodded,  intently  eying  the  card,  ^  fearful  yet, 
some  of  us,  that  it  might  be  denied  us. 

"You,  sir,  then."  And  he  addressed  me.  "You 
are  the  heaviest  better.  Suppose  you  turn  the  card 
for  yourself  and  those  other  gentlemen." 

I  obediently  reached  for  it.     My  hand  trembled. 


I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  125 

There  were  sixty  or  seventy  dollars  upon  the  table, 
and  my  own  contribution  was  my  last  cent.  As  I 
fumbled  I  felt  the  strain  of  bodies  pressing  against 
mine,  and  heard  the  hiss  of  feverish  breaths,  and  a 
foolish  laugh  or  two.  Nevertheless  the  silence 
seemed  overpowering. 

I  turned  the  card — the  card  with  the  bent  corner* 
of  which  I  was  as  certain  as  of  my  own  name;  I  faced 
it  up,  confidently,  my  capital  already  doubled;  and 
amidst  a  burst  of  astonished  cries  I  stared  dumb 
founded. 

It  was  the  eight  of  clubs!  My  fingers  left  it  as 
though  it  were  a  snake.  It  was  the  eight  of  clubs! 
Where  I  had  seen,  in  fancy,  the  queen  of  hearts,  there 
lay  like  a  changeling  the  eight  of  clubs,  with  corner 
bent  as  only  token  of  the  transformation. 

The  crowd  elbowed  about  me.  With  rapid  move 
ment  the  gambler  raked  in  the  bets — a  slender  hand 
flashed  by  me — turned  the  next  card.  The  queen  that 
was,  after  all. 

The  gambler  darkened,  gathering  the  paste 
boards. 

"  We  can't  both  win,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  tone  pas 
sionless.  "  But  I  am  willing  to  give  you  one  more 
chance,  from  a  new  deck." 

What  the  response  was  I  did  not  know,"  nor  care. 
My  ears  drummed  confusedly,  and  seeing  nothing  I 
pushed  through  into  the  open,  painfully  conscious 
that  I  was  flat  penniless  and  that  instead  of  having 


126  DESERT  DUST 

played  the  knave  I  had  played  the  fool,  for  the  queen 
of  hearts. 

The  loss  of  some  twenty  dollars  might  have  been  a 
trivial  matter  to  me  once — I  had  at  times  cast  that 
sum  away  as  vainly  as  Washington  had  cast  a  dollar 
across  the  Potomac;  but  here  I  had  lost  my  all, 
whether  large  or  small ;  and  not  only  had  I  been  bilked 
out  of  it — I  had  bilked  myself  out  of  it  by  sinking, 
in  pretended  smartness,  below  the  level  of  a  more  art 
ful  dodger. 

I  heard  My  Lady  speaking  beside  me. 

"  I'm  so  sorry."  She  laid  hand  upon  my  sleeve. 
"  You  should  have  been  content  with  small  sums,  or 
followed  my  lead.  Next  time " 

"There'll  be  no  next  time,"  I  blurted.  "I  am 
cleaned  out." 

"  You  don't  mean ?  " 

"  I  was  first  robbed  at  the  hotel.     Now  here." 

"  No,  no !  "  she  opposed.  Jim  sidled  to  us.  "  That 
was  a  bungle,  Jim." 

He  ruefully  scratched  his  head. 

"A  wrong  steer  for  once,  I  reckon.  I  warn't  slick 
enough.  Too  much  money  on  the  table.  But  it 
looked  like  the  card;  I  never  took  my  eyes  off'n  it. 
We'll  try  ag'in,  and  switch  to  another  layout.  By 
thunder,  I  want  revenge  on  this  joint  and  I  mean  to 
get  it.  So  do  you,  don't  you,  pardner  ?  "  he  appealed 
to  me. 

As  with  mute,  sickly  denial  I  turned  away  it  seemed 


I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  127 

to  me  that  I  sensed  a  shifting  of  forms  at  the  monte 
table — caught  the  words  "  You  watch  here  a  mo 
ment  " ;  and  close  following,  a  slim  white  hand  fell 
heavily  upon  My  Lady's  shoulder.  It  whirled  her 
about,  to  face  the  gambler.  His  smooth  olive  coun 
tenance  was  dark  with  a  venom  of  rage  incarnate  that 
poisoned  the  air;  his  syllables  crackled. 

"  You  devil !  I  heard  you,  at  the  table.  You  med 
dle  with  my  come-ons,  will  you  ?  "  And  he  slapped 
her  with  open  palm,  so  that  the  impact  smacked. 
"  Now  get  out  o'  here  or  I'll  kill  you." 

She  flamed  red,  all  in  a  single  rush  of  blood. 

"Oh!"  she  breathed.  Her  hand  darted  for  the 
pocket  in  her  skirt,  but  I  sprang  between  the  two. 
Forgetful  of  my  revolver,  remembering  only  what  I 
had  witnessed — a  woman  struck  by  a  man — with  a 
blow  I  sent  him  reeling  backward. 

He  recovered;  every  vestige  of  color  had  left  his 
face,  except  for  the  spot  where  I  had  landed;  his  hat 
had  sprung  aside  from  the  shock — his  gray  eyes, 
contrasted  with  his  black  hair,  fastened  upon  my  eyes 
almost  deliberately  and  his  upper  lip  lifted  over  set 
white  teeth.  With  lightning  movement  he  thrust  the 
ringers  of  his  right  hand  into  his  waistcoat  pocket. 

I  heard  a  rush  of  feet,  a  clamor  of  voices;  and  all 
the  while,  which  seemed  interminable,  I  was  tugging, 
awkward  with  deadly  peril,  at  my  revolver.  His  rin 
gers  had  whipped  free  of  the  pocket,  I  glimpsed  as 
with  second  sight  (for  my  eyes  were  held  strongly  by 


128  DESERT  DUST 

his)  the  twin  little  black  muzzles  of  a  derringer  con 
cealed  in  his  palm;  a  spasm  of  fear  pinched  me;  they 
spurted,  with  ringing  report,  but  just  at  the  instant  a 
flanneled  arm  knocked  his  arm  up,  the  ball  had  sped 
ceiling-ward  and  the  teamster  of  the  gaming  table 
stood  against  him,  revolver  barrel  boring  into  his  very 
stomach. 

"  Stand  pat,  Mister.     I  call  you." 

In  a  trice  all  entry  of  any  unpleasant  emotion  van 
ished  from  my  antagonist's  handsome  face,  leaving  it 
olive  tinted,  cameo,  inert.  He  steadied  a  little,  and 
smiled,  surveying  the  teamster's  visage,  close  to  his. 

"  You  have  me  covered,  sir.  My  hand  is  in  the 
discard."  He  composedly  tucked  the  derringer  into 
his  waistcoat  pocket  again.  "  That  gentleman  struck 
he;  he  was  about  to  draw  on  me,  and  by  rights  I 
might  have  killed  him.  My  apologies  for  this  little 
disturbance." 

He  bestowed  a  challenging  look  upon  me,  a  hard 
unforgiving  look  upon  the  lady ;  with  a  bow  he  turned 
for  his  hat,  and  stepping  swiftly  went  back  to  his 
table. 

Now  in  the  reaction  I  fought  desperately  against  a 
trembling  of  the  knees;  there  were  congratulations,  a 
hubbub  of  voices  assailing  me — and  the  arm  of  the 
teamster  through  mine  and  his  bluff  invitation: 

"  Come  and  have  a  drink." 

"  But  you'll  return.  You  must.  I  want  to  speak 
with  you." 


I  STAKE  ON  THE  QUEEN  129 

It  was  My  Lady,  pleading  earnestly.  I  still  could 
scarcely  utter  a  word;  my  brain  was  in  a  smother. 
My  new  friend  moved  me  away  from  her.  He  an 
swered  for  me. 

"  Not  until  we've  had  a  little  confab,  lady.  We've 
got  matters  of  importance  jest  at  present." 

I  saw  her  bite  her  lips,  as  she  helplessly  flushed ;  her 
blue  eyes  implored  me,  but  I  had  no  will  of  my  own 
and  I  certainly  owed  a  measure  of  courtesy  to  this 
man  who  had  saved  my  life. 


CHAPTER  IX 

I  ACCEPT  AN   OFFER 

WE  found  a  small  table,  one  of  the  several  devoted 
to  refreshments  for  the  dancers,  in  a  corner  and  un 
occupied.  The  affair  upon  the  floor  was  apparently 
past  history — if  it  merited  even  that  distinction.  The 
place  had  resumed  its  program  of  dancing,  playing 
and  drinking  as  though  after  all  a  pistol  shot  was  of 
no  great  moment  in  the  Big  Tent. 

"  You  had  a  narrow  shave,"  my  friend  remarked  as 
we  seated  ourselves — I  with  a  sigh  of  gratitude  for 
the  opportunity.  "If  you  can't  draw  quicker  you'd 
better  keep  your  hands  in  your  pockets.  Let's  have  a 
dose  of  t'rant'lar  juice  to  set  you  up."  Whereupon 
he  ordered  whiskey  from  a  waiter. 

"  But  I  couldn't  stand  by  and  see  him  strike  a 
woman,"  I  defended. 

"  Wall,  fists  mean  guns,  in  these  diggin's.  Where 
you  from  ?  " 

"  Albany,  New  York  State." 

"  I  sized  you  up  as  a  pilgrim.  You  haven't  been 
long  in  camp,  either,  have  you  ?  " 

"  No.  But  plenty  long  enough,"  I  miserably  re 
plied. 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  131 

"  Long  enough  to  be  plucked,  eh  ?  " 

We  had  drunk  the  whiskey.  Under  its  warming 
influence  my  tongue  loosened.  Moreover  there  was 
something  strong  and  kindly  in  the  hearty  voice  and 
the  rough  face  of  this  rudely  clad  plainsman,  black 
bearded  to  the  piercing  black  eyes. 

"  Yes ;  of  my  last  cent." 

"All  at  gamblin',  mebbe?" 

"No.  Only  a  little,  but  that  strapped  me.  The 
hotel  had  robbed  me  of  practically  everything  else." 

"  Had,  had  it?     Wall,  what's  the  story?  " 

I  told  him  of  the  hotel  part;  and  he  nodded. 

"  Shore.  You  can't  hold  the  hotel  responsible. 
You  can  leave  stuff  loose  in  regular  camp;  nobody 
enters  flaps  without  permission.  But  a  room  is  a  dif 
ferent  proposition.  I'd  rather  take  chances  among 
Injuns  than  among  white  men.  Why,  you  could 
throw  in  with  a  Sioux  village  for  a  year  and  not  be 
robbed  permanent  if  the  chief  thought  you  straight; 
but  in  a  white  man's  town — hell!  Now,  how'd  you 
get  tangled  up  with  this  other  outfit  ?  " 

"Which?"  I  queried. 

"  That  brace  outfit  I  found  you  with." 

"  The  fellow  is  a  stranger  to  me,  sir,"  said  I.  "  I 
simply  was  foolish  enough  to  stake  what  little  I  had 
on  a  sure  thing — I  was  bamboozled  into  following  the 
lead  of  the  rest  of  you,"  I  reminded.  "  Now  I  see 
that  there  was  a  trick,  although  I  don't  yet  under 
stand.  After  that  the  fellow  assaulted  the  lady,  my 


I32  DESERT  DUST 

companion,  and  you  stepped  in — for  which,  sir,  I  owe 
you  more  thanks  than  I  can  utter." 

"A  trick,  you  think  ?  "  He  opened  his  hairy  mouth 
for  a  gust  of  short  laughter.  "  My  Gawd,  boy !  We 
were  nicely  took  in,  and  we  desarved  it.  When  you 
buck  the  tiger,  look  out  for  his  claws.  But  I  reck 
oned  he'd  postpone  the  turn  till  next  time.  He  would 
have,  if  you  fellers  hadn't  come  down  so  handsome 
with  the  dust.  I  stood  pat,  at  that.  So,  you  notice, 
did  the  capper,  your  other  friend." 

"  The  capper?     Which  was  he,  sir?  " 

"  Why,  Lord  bless  you,  son.  You're  the  greenest 
thing  this  side  of  Omyha.  A  capper  touched  him  on 
the  shoulder,  a  capper  bent  that  there  card,  a  capper 
tolled  you  all  on  with  a  dollar  or  two,  and  another 
capper  fed  the  come-ons  to  his  table.  Aye,  she's  a 
purty  piece.  Where'd  you  meet  up  with  her?  " 

"With  her?"  I  gasped. 

"  Yes,  yes.  The  woman ;  the  main  steerer.  That 
purty  piece  who  damn  nigh  lost  you  your  life  as  well 
as  losin'  you  your  money." 

"  You  mean  the  lady  with  the  blue  eyes,  in  black?  " 

"  Yes,  the  golden  hair.  Lady !  Oh,  pshaw ! 
Where'd  she  hook  you?  At  the  door?" 

"  You  shall  not  speak  of  her  in  that  fashion,  sir,"  I 
answered.  "  We  were  together  on  the  train  from 
Omaha.  She  has  been  kindness  itself.  The  only  part 
she  has  played  to-night,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  was  to 
chaperon  me  here  in  the  Big  Tent;  and  whatever 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  133 

small  winnings  I  had  made,  for  amusement,  was 
due  to  her  and  the  skill  of  an  acquaintance  named 
Jim." 

"  Jim  Daily,  yep.  O'  course.  And  she  befriended 
you.  Why,  d'you  suppose  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  because  I  was  of  some  assistance  to  her 
on  the  way  out  West.  I  had  a  little  setto  with  Mr. 
Daily,  when  he  annoyed  her  while  he  was  drunk. 
But  sobered  up,  he  seemed  to  wish  to  make 
amends." 

"  Oh,  Lord ! "  My  friend's  mouth  gaped.  "Amends  ? 
Yep.  That's  his  nature.  Might  call  it  mendin'  his 
pocket  and  his  lip.  And  you  don't  yet  savvy  that  your 
'lady'  's  Montoyo's  wife — his  woman,  anyhow?" 

"  Montoyo  ?     Who's  Montoyo  ?  " 

"  The  monte  thrower.  That  same  spieler  who 
trimmed  us,"  he  rapped  impatiently. 

The  light  that  broke  upon  me  dazed.  My  heart 
pounded.  I  must  have  looked  what  I  felt:  a  fool. 

"  No,"  I  stammered  in  my  thin  small  voice  of  the 
hotel.  "  I  imagined — I  had  reason  to  suspect  that 
she  might  be  married.  But  I  didn't  know  to  whom." 

"  Married  ?  Wall, '  mebbe.  Anyhow,  she's  bound 
to  Montoyo.  He's  a  breed,  some  Spanish,  some 
white,  like  as  not  some  Injun.  A  devil,  and  as  slick 
as  they  make  'em.  She's  a  power  too  white  for  him, 
herself,  but  he  uses  her  and  some  day  he'll  kill  her. 
You're  not  the  fust  gudgeon  she's  hooked,  to  feed  to 
him.  Why,  she's  known  all  back  down  the  line. 


134  DESERT  DUST 

They  two  have  been  followin'  end  o'  track  from 
North  Platte,  along  with  Hell  on  Wheels.  Had  a 
layout  in  Omyha,  and  in  Denver.  They're  not  the 
only  double-harness  outfit  hyar,  either.  You  can 
meet  a  friendly  woman  any  time,  but  this  one  got 
hold  you  fust." 

I  writhed  to  the  words. 

"  And  that  fellow  Jim?  "  I  asked. 

"  He's  jest  a  common  roper.  He  alluz  wins,  to  en 
courage  suckers  like  you.  'Tisn't  his  money  he  plays 
with;  he's  on  commish.  Beginnin'  to  understand, 
ain't  you  ?  " 

"But  the  bent  card?"  I  insisted.  "That  is  the 
mystery.  It  was  the  queen.  What  became  of  the 
queen  ?  " 

"  Ho  ho !  "  And  again  he  laughed.  "A  cute  trick, 
shore.  That's  what  we  got  for  bein'  so  plumb  crooked 
ourselves.  Why,  o'  course  it  was  the  queen,  once. 
You  see  'twas  this  way.  That  she-male  and  the  cap 
per  in  cahoots  with  her  tolled  you  on  straight  for 
Montoyo's  table;  teased  you  a  leetle  along  the  trail, 
no  doubt,  to  keep  you  interested."  I  nodded.  "  They 
promised  you  winnin's,  easy  winnin's.  Then  at  Mon 
toyo's  table  the  game  was  a  leetle  slack;  so  one  capper 
touched  him  on  the  shoulder  and  another  marked  the 
card.  O'  course  a  gambler  like  him  wouldn't  be  up  to 
readin'  his  own  cards.  Oh,  no !  You  sports  were  the 
smart  ones." 

"How  about  yourself?"  I  retorted,  nettled. 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  135 

"  Me  ?  I  know  them  tricks,  but  I  reckoned  I  was 
smart,  too.  Then  that  capper  Jim  led  out  and  we  all 
made  a  small  winnin',  to  prove  the  system.  And 
Montoyo,  he  gets  tired  o'  losin' — but  still  he's  blind 
to  a  card  that  everybody  else  can  see,  and  he  calls  for 
real  play  so  he  can  go  broke  or  even  up.  I  didn't  look 
for  much  of  a  deal  on  that  throw  myself.  Usu'ly  it 
comes  less  promisc'yus,  with  the  gudgeon  stakin'  the 
big  roll,  and  then  I  pull  out.  But  you-all  slapped 
down  the  stuff  in  a  stampede,  sartin  you  had  him 
buffaloed.  On  his  last  shuffle  he'd  straightened  the 
queen  and  turned  down  the  eight,  usin'  an  extra  finger 
or  two.  Them  card  sharps  have  six  fingers  on  each 
hand  and  several  in  their  sleeve,  and  he  was  slicker'n 
I  thought.  He  might  have  refused  all  bets  and  got 
your  mad  up  for  the  next  pass ;  but  you'd  come  down 
as  handsome  as  you  would,  he  figgered.  So  he  let  go. 
'Twas  fair  and  squar',  robber  eat  robber,  and  we  none 
of  us  have  any  call  to  howl.  But  you  mind  my  word: 
Don't  aim  to  put  something  over  on  a  professional 
gamblin'  sharp.  It  can't  be  done.  As  for  me,  I 
broke  even  and  I  alluz  expect  to  lose.  When  I  look 
to  be  skinned  I  leave  most  my  dust  behind  me  where  I 
can't  get  at  it." 

Now  I  saw  all,  or  enough.  I  had  received  no  more 
than  I  deserved.  Such  a  wave  of  nausea  surged  into 
my  mouth — but  he  was  continuing. 

"  Jest  why  he  struck  his  woman  I  don't  know.  Do 
you?" 


I36  DESERT  DUST 

"  Yes.  She  had  cautioned  me  and  he  must  have 
heard  her.  And  she  showed  which  was  the  right  card. 
I  don't  understand  that." 

"  To  save  her  face,  and  egg  you  on.  Shore !  Your 
twenty  dollars  was  nothin'.  She  didn't  know  you 
were  busted.  Next  time  she'd  have  steered  you  to 
the  tune  of  a  hundred  or  two  and  cleaned  you  proper. 
You  hadn't  been  worked  along,  yet,  to  the  right  pitch 
o'  smartness.  Montoyo  must  ha'  mistook  her.  She 
encouraged  you,  didn't  she  ?  " 

"  Yes,  she  did."  I  arose  unsteadily,  clutching  the 
table.  "If  you'll  excuse  me,  sir,  I  think  I'd  better  go. 
I — I — I  thank  you.  I  only  wish  I'd  met  you  before. 
You  are  at  liberty  to  regard  me  as  a  saphead.  Good 
night,  sir." 

"  No !  Hold  on.  Sit  down,  sit  down,  man.  Have 
another  drink." 

"  I  have  had  enough.  In  fact,  since  arriving  in 
Benton  I've  had  more  than  enough  of  everything." 
But  I  sat  down. 

"  Where  were  you  goin'  ?  " 

"  To  the  hotel.  I  am  privileged  to  stay  there  until 
to-morrow.  Thank  Heaven  I  was  obliged  to  pay  in 
advance." 

"  Alluz  safer,"  said  he.    "  And  then  what?  " 

"To-morrow?" 

"  Yes.    To-morrow." 

"  I  don't  know.  I  must  find  employment,  and  earn 
enough  to  get  home  with."  To  write  for  funds  was 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  137 

now  impossible  through  very  shame.  "  Home's  the 
only  place  for  a  person  of  my  greenness." 

"  Why  did  you  come  out  clear  to  end  o'  track  ?  " 
he  inquired. 

"  I  was  ordered  by  my  physician  to  find  a  locality 
in  the  Far  West,  high  and  dry."  I  gulped  at  his  smile. 
"  I've  found  it  and  shall  go  home  to  report." 

"  With  your  tail  between  your  legs  ?  "  He  clapped 
me  upon  the  shoulder.  "  Stiffen  your  back.  We  all 
have  to  pay  for  eddication.  You're  not  wolf  meat 
yet,  by  a  long  shot.  You've  still  got  your  hair,  and 
that's  more  than  some  men  I  know  of.  You  look 
purty  healthy,  too.  Don't  turn  for  home;  stick  it 
out." 

"  I  shall  have  to  stick  it  out  until  I  raise  the  trans 
portation,"  I  reminded.  "  My  revolver  should  tide 
me  over,  for  a  beginning." 

"Sell  it?"  said  he.  "Sell  your  breeches  fust. 
Either  way  you'd  be  only  half  dressed.  No!  " 

"  It  would  take  me  a  little  way.  I'll  not  stay  in 
Benton — not  to  be  pointed  at  as  a  dupe." 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  "  he  laughed.  "  Nobody'll  remem 
ber  you,  specially  if  you're  known  to  be  broke. 
Busted,  you're  of  no  use  to  the  camp.  Let  me  make 
you  a  proposition.  I  believe  you're  straight  goods. 
Can't  believe  anything  else,  after  seein'  your  play  and 
sizin'  you  up.  Let  me  make  you  a  proposition.  I'm 
on  my  way  to  Salt  Lake  with  a  bull  outfit  and  I'm  in 
need  of  another  man.  I'll  give  you  a  dollar  and  a 


I38  DESERT  DUST 

half  a  day  and  found,  and  it  will  be  good  honest  work, 
too." 

"  You  are  teaming  west,  you  mean  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir.     Freightin'  across.     Mule-whackin'." 

"  But  I  never  drove  spans  in  my  life ;  and  I'm  not 
in  shape  to  stand  hardships,"  I  faltered.  "  I'm  here 
for  my  health.  I  have " 

"  Stow  all  that,  son,"  he  interrupted  more  toler 
antly  than  was  my  due.  "  Forget  your  lungs,  lights 
and  liver  and  stand  up  a  full-size  man.  In  my  opin 
ion  you've  had  too  much  doctorin'.  A  month  with  a 
bull  train,  and  a  diet  of  beans  and  sowbelly  will  put  a 
linin'  in  your  in'ards  and  a  heart  in  your  chest.  When 
you've  slept  under  a  wagon  to  Salt  Lake  and  1'arned 
to  sling  a  bull  whip  and  relish  your  beans  burned,  you 
can  look  anybody  in  the  eye  and  tell  him  to  go  to  hell, 
if  you  like.  This  roarin'  town  life — it's  no  life  for 
you.  It's  a  bobtail,  wide  open  in  the  middle.  I'll  be 
only  too  glad  to  get  away  on  the  long  trail  myself. 
So  you  come  with  me,"  and  he  smiled  winningly.  "  I 
hate  to  see  you  ruined  by  women  and  likker.  Mule- 
skinnin'  ain't  all  beer  and  skittles,  as  they  say ;  but  this 
job'll  tide  you  over,  anyhow,  and  you'll  come  out  at 
the  end  with  money  in  your  pocket,  if  you  choose,  and 
no  doctor's  bill  to  pay." 

"  Sir,"  I  said  gratefully,  "  may  I  think  it  over  to 
night,  and  let  you  know  in  the  morning  ?  Where  will 
I  find  you?" 

"  The  train's  camped  near  the  wagon  trail,  back  at 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  139 

the  river.  You  can't  miss  it.  It's  mainly  a  Mormon 
train,  that  some  of  us  Gentiles  have  thrown  in  with. 
Ask  for  Cap'n  Hyrum  Adams'  train.  My  name's 
Jenks — George  Jenks.  You'll  find  me  there.  I'll 
hold  open  for  you  till  ten  o'clock — yes,  till  noon.  I 
mean  that  you  shall  come.  It'll  be  the  makin'  of 
you." 

I  arose  and  gave  him  my  hand ;  shook  with  him. 

"  And  I  hope  to  come,"  I  asserted  with  glow  of 
energy.  "  You've  set  me  upon  my  feet,  Mr.  Jenks, 
for  I  was  desperate.  You're  the  first  honest  man  I've 
met  in  Benton." 

"Tut,  tut,"  he  reproved.  "There  are  others. 
Benton's  not  so  bad  as  you  think  it.  But  you  were 
dead  ripe;  the  buzzards  scented  you.  Now  you  go 
straight  to  your  hotel,  unless  you'll  spend  the  night 
with  me.  No  ?  Then  I'll  see  you  in  the  mornin'.  I'll 
risk  your  gettin'  through  the  street  alone." 

"  You  may,  sir,"  I  affirmed.  "At  present  I'm  not 
worth  further  robbing." 

"  Except  for  your  gun  and  clothes,"  he  rejoined. 
"  But  if  you'll  use  the  one  you'll  keep  the  other." 

Gazing  neither  right  nor  left  I  strode  resolutely  for 
the  exit.  Now  I  had  an  anchor  to  windward.  Some 
times  just  one  word  will  face  a  man  about  when  for 
lack  of  that  mere  word  he  was  drifting.  Of  the 
games  and  the  people  I  wished  only  to  be  rid  forever; 
but  at  the  exit  I  was  halted  by  a  hand  laid  upon  my 
arm,  and  a  quick  utterance. 


I4o  DESERT  DUST 

"  Not  going  ?     You  will  at  least  say  good-night." 

I  barely  paused,  replying  to  her. 

"  Good-night." 

Still  she  would  have  detained  me. 

"  Oh,  no,  no !  Not  this  way.  It  was  a  mistake. 
I  swear  to  you  I  am  not  to  be  blamed.  Please  let  me 
help  you.  I  don't  know  what  you've  heard — I  don't 
know  what  has  been  said  about  me — you  are  an- 
gry  —  " 

I  twitched  free,  for  she  should  not  work  upon  me 
again.  With  such  as  she,  a  vampire  and  yet  a  woman, 
a  man's  safety  lay  not  in  words  but  in  unequivocal 
action. 

"  Good-night,"  I  bade  thickly,  half  choked  by  that 
same  nausea,  now  hot.  Bearing  with  me  a  satisfying 
but  somehow  annoyingly  persistent  imprint  of  moist 
blue  eyes  under  shimmering  hair,  and  startled  white 
face  plashed  on  one  cheek  with  vivid  crimson,  and 
small  hand  left  extended  empty,  I  roughly  stalked  on 
and  out,  free  of  her,  free  of  the  Big  Tent,  her  lair. 

All  the  way  to  the  hotel,  through  the  garish  street, 
I  nursed  my  wrath  while  it  gnawed  at  me  like  the  fox 
in  the  Spartan  boy's  bosom;  and  once  in  my  room, 
which  fortuitously  had  no  other  tenants  at  this  hour, 
I  had  to  lean  out  of  the  narrow  window  for  sheer  re 
lief  in  the  coolness.  Surely  pride  had  had  a  fall  this 
night. 

There  "  roared  "  Benton — the  Benton  to  which,  as 
to  prosperity,  I  had  hopefully  purchased  my  ticket 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  141 

ages  ago.  And  here  cowered  I,  holed  up — pillaged, 
dishonored,  worthless  in  even  this  community:  a 
young  fellow  in  jaunty  frontier  costume,  new  and 
brave,  but  really  reduced  to  sackcloth  and  ashes;  a 
young  fellow  only  a  husk,  as  false  in  appearance  as 
the  Big  Tent  itself  and  many  another  of  those  canvas 
shells. 

The  street  noises — shouts,  shots,  music,  songs, 
laughter,  rattle  of  dice,  whirr  of  wheel  and  clink  of 
glasses — assailed  me  discordant.  The  scores  of  tents 
and  shacks  stretching  on  irregularly  had  become 
pocked  with  dark  spots,  where  lights  had  been  extin 
guished,  but  the  street  remained  ablaze  and  the  desert 
without  winked  at  the  stars.  There  were  moving 
gleams  at  the  railroad  yards  where  switch  engines 
puffed  back  and  forth;  up  the  grade  and  the  new 
track,  pointing  westward,  there  were  sparks  of  camp- 
fires;  and  still  in  other  directions  beyond  the  town 
other  tokens  redly  flickered,  where  overland  freight 
ers  were  biding  till  the  morning. 

Two  or  three  miles  in  the  east  (Mr.  Jenks  had 
said)  was  his  wagon  train,  camped  at  the  North 
Platte  River;  and  peering  between  the  high  canopy  of 
stars  and  the  low  stratum  of  spectrally  glowing, 
earthy — yes,  very  earthy — Benton,  I  tried  to  focus 
upon  the  haven,  for  comfort. 

I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  accept  the  berth.  Any 
thing  to  get  away.  Benton  I  certainly  hated  with  the 
rage  of  the  defeated.  So  in  a  fling  I  drew  back,  wres- 


I42  DESERT  DUST 

tied  out  of  coat  and  boots  and  belt  and  pantaloons, 
tucked  them  in  hiding  against  the  wall  at  the  head  of 
my  bed  and  my  revolver  underneath  my  stained  pil 
low;  and  tried  to  forget  Benton,  all  of  it,  with  the 
blanket  to  my  ears  and  my  face  to  the  wall,  for  sleep. 

When  once  or  twice  I  wakened  from  restless 
dreaming  the  glow  and  the  noise  of  the  street  seemed 
scarcely  abated,  as  if  down  there  sleep  was  despised. 
But  when  I  finally  aroused,  and  turned,  gathering  wits 
again,  full  daylight  had  paled  everything  else. 

Snores  sounded  from  the  other  beds ;  I  saw  tumbled 
coverings,  disheveled  forms  and  shaggy  heads.  In 
my  own  corner  nothing  had  been  molested.  The 
world  outside  was  strangely  quiet.  The  trail  was 
open.  So  with  no  attention  to  my  roommates  I  has 
tily  washed  and  dressed,  buckled  on  my  armament, 
and  stumped  freely  forth,  down  the  somnolent  hall, 
down  the  creaking  stairs,  and  into  the  silent  lobby. 

Even  the  bar  was  vacant.  Behind  the  office  coun 
ter  a  clerk  sat  sunk  into  a  doze.  At  my  approach  he 
unclosed  blank,  heavy  eyes. 

"  I'm  going  out,"  I  said  shortly.  "  Number  Three 
bed  in  Room  Six." 

"  For  long,  sir?  "  he  stammered.  "  You'll  be  back, 
or  are  you  leaving?  " 

"  I'm  leaving.     You'll  find  I'm  paid  up." 

"Yes,  sir.  Of  course,  sir."  He  rallied  to  the 
problem.  "  Just  a  moment.  Number  Three,  Room 
Six,  you  say.  Pulling  your  freight,  are  you?"  He 


I  ACCEPT  AN  OFFER  143 

scanned  the  register.  "  You're  the  gentleman  from 
New  York  who  came  in  yesterday  and  met  with  mis 
fortune?" 

"  I  am,"  said  I. 

"  Well,  better  luck  next  time.  We'll  see  you 
again  ?  "  He  quickened.  "  Here !  One  moment. 
Think  I  have  a  message  for  you."  And  reaching 
behind  him  into  a  pigeonhole  he  extracted  an  en 
velope,  which  he  passed  to  me.  "  Yours,  sir?  " 

I  stared  at  the  fine  slanting  script  of  the  address: 

Please  deliver  to 

Frank  R.  Beeson,  Esqr., 

At  the  Queen  Hotel. 

Arrived  from  Albany,  N.  Y. 


CHAPTER  X 

I  CUT  LOOSE 

I  NODDED;  rebuffing  his  attentive  eyes  I  stuffed  the 
envelope  into  my  pantaloons  pocket. 

"  Good-bye,  sir." 

"  Good  luck.  When  you  come  back  remember  the 
Queen." 

"  I'll  remember  the  Queen,"  said  I ;  and  with  the 
envelope  smirching  my  flesh  I  stepped  out,  holding 
my  head  as  high  as  though  my  pockets  contained 
something  of  more  value. 

The  events  of  yesterday  had  hardened,  thank 
Heaven;  and  so  had  I,  into  an  obstinacy  that  defied 
this  mocking  Western  country.  I  was  down  to  the 
ground  and  was  going  to  scratch.  To  make  for  home 
like  a  whipped  dog,  there  to  hang  about,  probably  be 
come  an  invalid  and  die  resistless,  was  unthinkable. 
Already  the  Far  West  air  and  vigor  had  worked  a 
change  in  me.  In  the  fresh  morning  I  felt  like  a 
fighting  cock,  or  a  runner  recruited  by  a  diet  of  un 
bolted  flour  and  strong  red  meat. 

The  falsity  of  the  life  here  I  looked  upon  as  only 
an  incident.  The  gay  tawdry  had  faded;  I  realized 
how  much  more  enduring  were  the  rough,  uncouth 


I  CUT  LOOSE  145 

but  genuine  products  like  my  friend  Mr.  Jenks  and 
those  of  that  ilk,  who  spoke  me  well  instead  of  merely 
fair.  Health  of  mind  and  body  should  be  for  me. 
Hurrah! 

But  the  note !  It  could  have  been  sent  by  only  one 
person — the  superscription,  dainty  and  feminine,  be 
trayed  it.  That  woman  was  still  pursuing  me.  How 
she  had  found  out  my  name  I  did  not  know;  perhaps 
from  the  label  on  my  bag,  perhaps  through  the  hotel 
register.  I  did  not  recall  having  exchanged  names 
with  her — she  never  had  proffered  her  own  name.  At 
all  events  she  appeared  determined  to  keep  a  hold 
upon  me,  and  that  was  disgusting. 

Couldn't  she  understand  that  I  was  no  longer  a  fool 
— that  I  had  wrenched  absolutely  loose  from  her  and 
that  she  could  do  nothing  with  me?  So  in  wrath  re 
newed  by  her  poor  estimate  of  my  common  sense  I 
was  minded  to  tear  the  note  to  fragments,  unread,  and 
contemptuously  scatter  them.  Had  she  been  present 
I  should  have  done  so,  to  show  her. 

Being  denied  the  satisfaction  I  saw  no  profit  in 
wasting  that  modicum  of  spleen,  when  I  might  double 
it  by  deliberately  reading  her  effusion  and  knowingly 
casting  it  into  the  dust.  One  always  can  make  excuses 
to  oneself,  for  curiosity.  Consequently  I  halted, 
around  a  corner  in  this  exhausted  Benton;  tore  the 
envelope  open  with  gingerly  touch.  The  folded  paper 
within  contained  a  five-dollar  bank  note. 

That  was  enough  to  pump  the  blood  to  my  face 


146  DESERT  DUST 

with  a  rush.  It  was  an  insult — a  shame,  first  hand. 
A  shoddy  plaster,  applied  to  me — to  me,  Frank  Bee- 
son,  a  gentleman,  whether  to  be  viewed  as  a  plucked 
greenhorn  or  not.  With  cheeks  twitching  I  managed 
to  read  the  lines  accompanying  the  dole: 

SIR: 

You  would  not  permit  me  to  explain  to  you 
to-night,  therefore  I  must  write.  The  recent  affair 
was  a  mistake.  I  had  no  intention  that  you  should 
lose,  and  I  supposed  you  were  in  more  funds.  I  in 
sist  upon  speaking  with  you.  You  shall  not  go  away 
in  this  fashion.  You  will  find  me  at  the  Elite  Cafe, 
at  a  table,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  And  in  case 
you  are  a  little  short  I  beg  of  you  to  make  use  of  the 
enclosed,  with  my  best  wishes  and  apologies.  You 
may  take  it  as  a  loan ;  I  do  not  care  as  to  that.  I  am 
utterly  miserable. 

E. 
To  Frank  Beeson,  Esquire. 

Faugh!  Had  there  been  a  sewer  near  I  believe 
that  I  should  have  thrown  the  whole  enclosure  in,  and 
spat.  But  half  unconsciously  wadding  both  money 
and  paper  in  my  hand  as  if  to  squeeze  the  last  drop  of 
rancor  from  them  I  swung  on,  seeing  blindly,  ready  to 
trample  under  foot  any  last  obstacle  to  my  passage 
out. 

Then,  in  the  deserted  way,  from  a  lane  among  the 
straggling  shacks,  a  figure  issued.  I  disregarded  it, 
only  to  hear  it  pattering  behind  me  and  its  voice: 

"Mr.  Beeson!     Wait!     Please  wait." 


I  CUT  LOOSE  147 

I  had  to  turn  about  to  avoid  the  further  degrada 
tion  of  acting  the  churl  to  her,  an  inferior.  And  as  I 
had  suspected,  she  it  was,  arriving  breathless  and 
cloak  inwrapped,  only  her  white  face  showing. 

"  You  have  my  note?  "  she  panted. 

There  were  dark  half  circles  under  her  eyes,  pinch 
lines  about  her  mouth,  all  her  face  was  wildly  strained. 
She  simulated  distress  very  well  indeed. 

"  Here  it  is,  and  your  money.  Take  them."  And 
I  thrust  my  unclosed  fist  at  her. 

"No!  And  you  were  going?  You  didn't  intend 
to  reply?" 

"  Certainly  not.  I  am  done  with  you,  and  with 
Benton,  madam.  Good-morning.  I  have  business." 

She  caught  at  my  sleeve. 

"  You  are  angry.  I  don't  blame  you,  but  you  have 
time  to  talk  with  me  and  you  shall  talk."  She  spoke 
almost  fiercely.  "  I  demand  it,  sir.  If  not  at  the 
cafe,  then  here  and  now.  Will  you  stand  aside, 
please,  where  the  whole  town  shan't  see  us ;  or  do  you 
wish  me  to  follow  you  on?  I'm  risking  already,  but 
I'll  risk  more." 

I  sullenly  stepped  aside,  around  the  corner  of  a 
sheet-iron  groggery  (plentifully  punctured,  I  noted, 
with  bullet  holes)  not  yet  open  for  business  and  faced 
by  the  blank  wall  of  a  warehouse. 

"  I've  been  waiting  since  daylight,"  she  panted, 
"  and  watching  the  hotel.  I  knew  you  were  still 
there;  I  found  out.  I  was  afraid  you  wouldn't  an- 


i48  DESERT  DUST 

swer  my  note,  so  I  slipped  around  and  cut  in  on  you. 
Where  are  you  going,  sir  ?  " 

"  That,  madam,  is  my  private  affair,"  I  replied. 
"And  all  your  efforts  to  influence  me  in  the  slightest 
won't  amount  to  a  row  of  pins.  And  as  I  am  in 
a  hurry,  I  again  bid  you  good-morning.  I  advise 
you  to  get  back  to  your  husband  and  your  beauty 
sleep,  in  order  to  be  fresh  for  your  Big  Tent  to 
night." 

"  My  husband  ?  You  know  ?  Oh,  of  course  you 
know."  She  gazed  affrightedly  upon  me.  "  To  Mon- 
toyo,  you  say  ?  Him  ?  No,  no !  I  can't !  Oh,  I  can't, 
I  can't."  She  wrung  her  hands,  she  held  me  fast. 
"And  I  know  where  you're  going.  To  that  wagon 
train.  Mr.  Jenks  has  engaged  you.  You  will  bull- 
whack  to  Salt  Lake?  You?  Don't!  Please  don't. 
There's  no  need  of  it." 

"  I  am  done  with  Benton,  and  with  Benton's  soci 
ety,  madam,"  I  insisted.  "  I  have  learned  my  lesson, 
believe  me,  and  I'm  no  longer  a  '  gudgeon.' ' 

"  You  never  were,"  said  she.  "  Not  that.  And 
you  don't  have  to  turn  bull-whacker  or  mule-skinner 
either.  It's  a  hard  life;  you're  not  fitted  for  it — 
never,  never.  Leave  Benton  if  you  will.  I  hate  it 
myself.  And  let  us  go  together." 

"  Madam !  "  I  rapped ;  and  drew  back,  but  she  clung 
to  me. 

"  Listen,  listen !  Don't  mistake  me  again.  Last 
night  was  enough.  I  want  to  go.  I  must  go.  We 


I  CUT  LOOSE  149 

can  travel  separately,  then;  I  will  meet  you  anywhere 
— Denver,  Omaha,  Chicago,  New  York,  anywhere  you 
say — anywhere " 

"  Your  husband,  madam,"  I  prompted.  "  He 
might  have  objections  to  parting  with  you." 

"  Montoyo  ?  That  snake — you  fear  that  snake  ? 
He  is  no  husband  to  me.  I  could  kill  him — I  will  do 
it  yet,  to  be  free  from  him." 

"  My  good  name,  then,"  I  taunted.  "  I  might  fear 
for  my  good  name  more  than  I'd  fear  a  man." 

"  I  have  a  name  of  my  own,"  she  flashed,  "  al 
though  you  may  not  know  it." 

"  I  have  been  made  acquainted  with  it,"  I  answered 
roundly. 

"  No,  you  haven't.  Not  the  true.  You  know  only 
another."  Her  tone  became  humbler.  "  But  I'm  not 
asking  you  to  marry  me,"  she  said.  "  I'm  not  asking 
you  to  love  me  as  a  paramour,  sir.  Please  under 
stand.  Treat  me  as  you  will ;  as  a  sister,  a  friend,  but 
anything  human.  Only  let  me  have  your  decent  re 
gard  until  I  can  get  'stablished  in  new  quarters.  I 
can  help  you,"  she  pursued  eagerly.  "  Indeed  I  can 
help  you  if  you  stay  in  the  West.  Yes,  anywhere,  for 
I  know  life.  Oh,  I'm  so  tired  of  myself;  I  can't  run 
true,  I'm  under  false  colors.  You  saw  how  the  train 
men  curried  favor  all  along  the  line,  how  familiar 
they  were,  how  I  submitted — I  even  dropped  that  coin 
a-purpose  in  the  Omaha  station,  for  you,  just  to  test 
you.  Those  things  are  expected  of  me  and  I've  felt 


I5o  DESERT  DUST 

obliged  to  play  my  part.  Men  look  upon  me  as  a  tool 
to  their  hands,  to  make  them  or  break  them.  All  they 
want  is  my  patronage  and  the  secrets  of  the  gaming 
table.  And  there  is  Montoyo — bullying  me,  cajoling 
me,  watching  me.  But  you  were  different,  after  I 
had  met  you.  I  foolishly  wished  to  help  you,  and  last 
night  the  play  went  wrong.  Why  did  I  take  you  to 
his  table?  Because  I  think  myself  entitled,  sir,"  she 
said  on,  bridling  a  little,  defiant  of  my  gaze,  "  to  pro 
mote  my  friends  when  I  have  any.  I  did  not  mean 
that  you  should  wager  heavily  for  you.  Montoyo  is 
out  for  large  stakes.  There  is  safety  in  small  and  I 
know  his  system.  You  remember  I  warned  you?  I 
did  warn  you.  I  saw  too  late.  You  shall  have  all 
your  money  back  again.  And  Montoyo  struck  me — 
me,  in  public!  That  is  the  end.  Oh,  why  couldn't  I 
have  killed  him?  But  if  you  stayed  here,  so  should  I. 
Not  with  him,  though.  Never  with  him.  Maybe 
I'm  talking  wildly.  You'll  say  I'm  in  love  with  you. 
Perhaps  I  am — quien  sabe  ?  No  matter  as  to  that.  I 
shall  be  no  hanger-on,  sir.  I  only  ask  a  kind  of  part 
nership — the  encouragement  of  some  decent  man  near 
me.  I  have  money ;  plenty,  till  we  both  get  a  footing. 
But  you  wouldn't  live  on  me;  no!  I  don't  fancy  that 
of  you  for  a  moment.  I  would  be  glad  merely  to  tide 
you  over,  if  you'd  let  me.  And  I — I'd  be  willing  to 
wash  floors  in  a  restaurant  if  I  might  be  free  of  insult. 
You,  I'm  sure,  would  at  least  protect  me.  Wouldn't 
you?  You  would,  wouldn't  you?  Say  something, 


I  CUT  LOOSE  151 

sir."  She  paused,  out  of  breath  and  aquiver.  "  Shall 
we  go  ?  Will  you  help  me  ?  " 

For  an  instant  her  appeal,  of  swimming  blue  eyes, 
upturned  face,  tensed  grasp,  breaking  voice,  swayed 
me.  But  what  if  she  were  an  actress,  an  adventuress? 
And  then,  my  parents,  my  father's  name!  I  had  al 
ready  been  cozened  once,  I  had  resolved  not  to  be 
snared  again.  The  spell  cleared  and  I  drew  exultant 
breath. 

"  Impossible,  madam,"  I  uttered.  "  This  is  final. 
Good-morning." 

She  staggered  and  with  magnificent  but  futile  last 
flourish  clapped  both  hands  to  her  face.  Gazing  back, 
as  I  hastened,  I  saw  her  still  there,  leaning  against 
the  sheet-iron  of  the  groggery  and  ostensibly  weeping. 

Having  shaken  her  off  and  resisted  contrary  temp 
tation  I  looked  not  again  but  paced  rapidly  for  the 
clean  atmosphere  of  the  rough-and-honest  bull  train. 
As  a  companion,  better  for  me  Mr.  Jenks.  When  my 
wrath  cooled  I  felt  that  I  might  have  acted  the  cad  but 
I  had  not  acted  the  simpleton. 

The  advance  of  the  day's  life  was  stirring  all  along 
the  road,  where  under  clouds  of  dust  the  four  and  six 
horse-and-mule  wagons  hauled  water  for  the  town, 
pack  outfits  of  donkeys  and  plodding  miners  wended 
one  way  or  the  other,  soldiers  trotted  in  from  the  mili 
tary  post,  and  Overlanders  slowly  toiled  for  the  last 
supply  depot  before  creaking  onward  into  the  desert. 

Along  the  railway  grade  likewise  there  was  activ- 


152  DESERT  DUST 

ity,  of  construction  trains  laden  high  with  rails,  ties, 
boxes  and  bales,  puffing  out,  their  locomotives  belch 
ing  pitchy  black  smoke  that  extended  clear  to  the  ri 
diculous  little  cabooses ;  of  wagon  trains  ploughing  on, 
bearing  supplies  for  the  grading  camps;  and  a  great 
herd  of  loose  animals,  raising  a  prodigious  spume  as 
they  were  driven  at  a  trot — they  also  heading  west 
ward,  ever  westward,  under  escort  of  a  protecting  de 
tachment  of  cavalry,  riding  two  by  two,  accoutre 
ments  flashing. 

The  sights  were  inspiring.  Man's  work  at  empire 
building  beckoned  me,  for  surely  the  wagoning  of 
munitions  to  remote  outposts  of  civilization  was  very 
necessary.  Consequently  I  trudged  best  foot  for 
ward,  although  on  empty  stomach  and  with  empty 
pockets ;  but  glad  to  be  at  large,  and  exchanging  good- 
natured  greetings  with  the  travelers  encountered. 

Nevertheless  my  new  boots  were  burning,  my  thigh 
was  chafed  raw  from  the  swaying  Colt's,  and  my  face 
and  throat  were  parched  with  the  dust,  when  in  about 
an  hour,  the  flag  of  the  military  post  having  been  my 
landmark,  I  had  arrived  almost  at  the  willow-bor 
dered  river  and  now  scanned  about  for  the  encamp 
ment  of  my  train. 

Some  dozen  white-topped  wagons  were  standing 
grouped  in  a  circle  upon  the  trampled  dry  sod  to  the 
south  of  the  road.  Figures  were  busily  moving 
among  them,  and  the  thin  blue  smoke  of  their  fires 
was  a  welcoming  signal.  I  marked  women,  and  chil- 


I  CUT  LOOSE  153 

dren.  The  whole  prospect — they,  the  breakfast 
smoke,  the  grazing  animals,  the  stout  vehicles,  a  line 
of  washed  clothing — was  homy.  So  I  veered  aside 
and  made  for  the  spot,  to  inquire  my  way  if  nothing 
more. 

First  I  addressed  a  little  girl,  tow-headed  and  bare 
legged,  in  a  single  cotton  garment. 

"  I  am  looking  for  the  Captain  Adams  wagon  train. 
Do  you  know  where  it  is?  " 

She  only  pointed,  finger  of  other  hand  in  her 
mouth;  but  as  she  indicated  this  same  camp  I  pressed 
on.  Mr.  Jenks  himself  came  out  to  meet  me. 

"  Hooray !  Here  you  are.  I  knew  you'd  do  it. 
That's  the  ticket.  Broke  loose,  have  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  accept  your  offer  if  it's  still  open,"  I 
said. 

We  shook  hands. 

"  Wide  open.  Could  have  filled  it  a  dozen  times. 
Come  in,  come  on  in  and  sit.  You  fetched  all  your 
outfit?" 

"  What  you  see,"  I  confessed.  "  I  told  you  my 
condition.  They  stripped  me  clean." 

He  rubbed  his  beard. 

"  Wall,  all  you  need  is  a  blanket.  Reckon  I  can 
rustle  you  that.  You  can  pay  for  it  out  of  your 
wages  or  turn  it  in  at  the  end  of  the  trip.  Fust  I'd 
better  make  you  acquainted  to  the  wagon  boss.  There 
he  is,  yonder." 

He  conducted  me  on,  along  the  groups  and  fires  and 


154  DESERT  DUST 

bedding  outside  the  wagon  circle,  and  halted  where  a 
heavy  man,  of  face  smooth-shaven  except  chin,  sat 
upon  a  wagon-tongue  whittling  a  stick. 

"  Mornin',  Cap'n.  Wall,  I'm  filled  out.  I've  hired 
this  lad  and  can  move  whenever  you  say  the  word. 

You "  he  looked  at  me.  "  What's  your  name, 

you  say  ?  " 

"  Frank  Beeson,"  I  replied. 

"  Didn't  ketch  it  last  night,"  he  apologized. 
"  Shake  hands  with  Cap'n  Hyrum  Adams,  Frank. 
He's  the  boss  of  the  train." 

Captain  Adams  lazily  arose — a  large  figure  in  his 
dusty  boots,  coarse  trousers  and  flannel  shirt,  and 
weather-beaten  black  slouch  hat.  The  inevitable  re 
volver  hung  at  his  thigh.  His  pursed  lips  spurted  a 
jet  of  tobacco  juice  as  he  keenly  surveyed  me  with 
small,  shrewd,  china-blue  eyes  squinting  from  a  broad 
flaccid  countenance.  But  the  countenance  was  un 
emotional  while  he  offered  a  thick  hand  which  proved 
singularly  soft  and  flatulent  under  the  callouses. 

"  Glad  to  meet  you,  stranger,"  he  acknowledged  in 
slow  bass.  "  Set  down,  set  down." 

He  waved  me  to  the  wagon-tongue,  and  I  thank 
fully  seated  myself.  All  of  a  sudden  I  seemed  utterly 
gone;  possibly  through  lack  of  food.  My  sigh  must 
have  been  remarked. 

"Breakfasted,  stranger?"  he  queried  passively. 

"  Not  yet,  sir.     I  was  anxious  to  reach  the  train." 

"  Pshaw !    I  was  about  to  ask  you  that,"  Mr.  Jenks 


I  CUT  LOOSE  155 

put  in.  "  Come  along  and  I'll  throw  together  a  mess 
for  you." 

"  Nobody  goes  hungry  from  the  Adams  wagon, 
stranger,"  Captain  Adams  observed.  He  slightly 
raised  his  voice,  peremptory.  "  Rachael !  Fetch  our 
guest  some  breakfast." 

"  But  as  Mr.  Jenks  has  invited  me,  Captain,  and  I 

am  in  his  employ "  I  protested.  He  cut  me 

short. 

"  I  have  said  that  nobody,  man,  woman  or  child,  or 
dog,  goes  hungry  from  the  Adams  wagon.  The  flesh 
must  be  fed  as  well  as  the  soul." 

There  were  two  women  in  view,  busied  with  domes 
tic  cares.  I  had  sensed  their  eyes  cast  now  and  then 
in  my  direction.  One  was  elderly,  as  far  as  might  be 
judged  by  her  somewhat  slatternly  figure  draped  in  a 
draggled  snuff-colored,  straight-flowing  gown,  and  by 
the  merest  glimpse  of  her  features  within  her  faded 
sunbonnet.  The  other  promptly  moved  aside  from 
where  she  was  bending  over  a  wash-board,  ladled  food 
from  a  kettle  to  a  platter,  poured  a  tin  cupful  of  coffee 
from  the  pot  simmering  by  the  fire,  and  bore  them  to 
me ;  her  eyes  down,  shyly  handed  them. 

I  thanked  her  but  was  not  presented.  To  the  Cap 
tain's  "  That  will  do,  Rachael,"  she  turned  dutifully 
away;  not  so  soon,  however,  but  that  I  had  seen  a 
fresh  young  face  within  the  bonnet  confines — a  round 
rosy  face  according  well  with  the  buxom  curves  of  her 
as  she  again  bent  over  her  wash-board. 


156  DESERT  DUST 

"  Our  fare  is  that  of  the  tents  of  Abraham,  stran 
ger,"  spoke  the  Captain,  who  had  resumed  his  whit 
tling.  "  Such  as  it  is,  you  are  welcome  to.  We  are  a 
plain  people  who  walk  in  the  way  of  the  Lord,  for  that 
is  commanded." 

His  sonorous  tones  were  delivered  rather  through 
the  nose,  but  did  not  fail  of  hospitality. 

"  I  ask  nothing  better,  sir,"  I  answered.  "And  if  I 
did,  my  appetite  would  make  up  for  all  deficiencies." 

"A  healthy  appetite  is  a  good  token,"  he  affirmed. 
"  Show  me  a  well  man  who  picks  at  his  victuals  and  I 
will  show  you  a  candidate  for  the  devil.  His  thoughts 
will  like  to  be  as  idle  as  his  knife." 

The  mess  of  pork  and  beans  and  the  black  unsweet 
ened  coffee  evidently  were  what  I  needed,  for  I  began 
to  mend  wonderfully  ere  I  was  half  through  the 
course.  He  had  not  invited  me  to  further  conversa 
tion — only,  when  I  had  drained  the  cup  he  called 
again:  "Rachael!  More  coffee,"  whereupon  the 
same  young  woman  advanced,  without  glancing  at 
me,  received  my  cup,  and  returned  it  steaming. 

"You  are  from  the  East,  stranger?"  he  now  in 
quired. 

"  Yes,  sir.     I  arrived  in  Benton  only  yesterday." 

"  A  Sodom,"  he  growled  harshly.  "  A  tented  sep- 
ulcher.  And  it  will  perish.  I  tell  you,  you  do  well 
to  leave  it,  you  do  well  to  yoke  yourself  with  the  ap 
pointed  of  this  earth,  rather  than  stay  in  that  sink-pit 
of  the  eternally  damned." 


I  CUT  LOOSE  157 

"  I  agree  with  you,  sir,"  said  I.  "  I  did  not  find 
Benton  to  be  a  pleasant  place.  But  I  had  not  known, 
when  I  started  from  Omaha." 

"  Possibly  not,"  he  moodily  assented.  "  The  devil 
is  attentive;  he  is  present  in  the  stations,  and  on  the 
trains ;  he  will  ride  in  those  gilded  palaces  even  to  the 
Jordan,  but  he  shall  not  cross.  In  the  name  of  the 
Lord  we  shall  face  him.  What  good  there  shall  come, 
shall  abide ;  but  the  evil  shall  wither.  Not,"  he  added, 
"  that  we  stand  against  the  railroad.  It  is  needed, 
and  we  have  petitioned  without  being  heard.  We  are 
strong  but  isolated,  we  have  goods  to  sell,  and  the 
word  of  Brigham  Young  has  gone  forth  that  a  rail 
road  we  must  have.  Against  the  harpies,  the  gam 
blers,  the  loose  women  and  the  lustful  men  and  all  the 
Gentile  vanities  we  will  stand  upon  our  own  feet  by 
the  help  of  Almighty  God." 

At  this  juncture,  when  I  had  finished  my  platter  of 
pork  and  beans  and  my  second  cup  of  coffee,  a  tall, 
double-jointed  youth  of  about  my  age,  carrying  an 
ox  goad  in  his  hand,  strolled  to  us  as  if  attracted  by 
the  harangue.  He  was  clad  in  the  prevalent  cowhide 
boots,  linsey-woolsey  pantaloons  tucked  in,  red  flannel 
shirt,  and  battered  hat  from  which  untrimmed  flaxen 
hair  fell  down  unevenly  to  his  shoulder  line.  He 
wore  at  his  belt  butcher-knife  and  gun. 

By  his  hulk,  his  light  blue  eyes,  albeit  a  trifle 
crossed,  and  the  general  lineaments  of  his  stolid, 
square,  high-cheeked  countenance  I  conceived  him 


158  DESERT  DUST 

to  be  a  second  but  not  improved  edition  of  the  Cap 
tain. 

A  true  raw-bone  he  was;  and  to  me,  as  I  casually 
met  his  gaze,  looked  to  be  obstinate,  secretive  and 
small  minded.  But  who  can  explain  those  sudden  an 
tagonisms  that  spring  up  on  first  sight? 

"  My  son  Daniel,"  the  Captain  introduced.  "  This 
stranger  travels  to  Zion  with  us,  Daniel,  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Jenks." 

The  youth  had  the  grip  of  a  vise,  and  seemed  to  en 
joy  emphasizing  it  while  cunningly  watching  my  face. 

"  Haowdy?  "  he  drawled.  With  that  he  twanged  a 
sentence  or  two  to  his  father.  "  I  faound  the  caow, 
Dad.  Do  yu  reckon  to  pull  aout  to-day  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  decided.  Go  tend  to  your  duties, 
Daniel." 

Daniel  bestowed  upon  me  a  parting  stare,  and 
lurched  away,  snapping  the  lash  of  his  goad. 

"And  with  your  permission  I  will  tend  to  mine, 
sir,"  I  said.  "  Mr.  Jenks  doubtless  has  work  for  me. 
I  thank  you  for  your  hospitality." 

"  We  are  commanded  by  the  prophet  to  feed  the 
stranger,  whether  friend  or  enemy,"  he  reproved. 
"  We  are  also  commanded  by  the  Lord  to  earn  our 
bread  by  the  sweat  of  our  brow.  As  long  as  you  are 
no  trifler  you  will  be  welcome  at  my  wagon.  Good- 
day  to  you." 

As  I  passed,  the  young  woman,  Rachael — whom  I 
judged  to  be  his  daughter,  although  she  was  evidently 


I  CUT  LOOSE  159 

far  removed  from  parent  stock — glanced  quickly  up. 
I  caught  her  gaze  full,  so  that  she  lowered  her  eyes 
with  a  blush.  She  was  indeed  wholesome  if  not  abso 
lutely  pretty.  When  later  I  saw  her  with  her  sun- 
bonnet  doffed  and  her  brown  hair  smoothly  brushed 
back  I  thought  her  more  wholesome  still. 

Mr.  Jenks  received  me  jovially. 

"  Got  your  belly  full,  have  you  ?  " 

"  I'm  a  new  man,"  I  assured. 

"  Wall,  those  Mormons  are  good  providers. 
They'll  share  with  you  whatever  they  have,  for  no 
pay,  but  if  you  rub  'em  the  wrong  way  or  go  to  dick- 
erin'  with  'em  they're  closer'n  the  hide  on  a  cold  mule. 
You  didn't  make  sheep's  eyes  at  ary  of  the  women?" 

"  No,  sir.    I  am  done  with  women." 

"  And  right  you  are." 

"  However,  I  could  not  help  but  see  that  the  Cap 
tain's  daughter  is  pleasing  to  look  upon.  I  should  be 
glad  to  know  her,  were  there  no  objections." 

"How?     His  daughter?" 

"  Miss  Rachael,  I  believe.  That  is  the  name  he 
used." 

"  The  young  one,  you  mean?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  The  one  who  served  me  with  breakfast. 
Rosy-cheeked  and  plump." 

"Whoa,  man!  She's  his  wife,  and  not  for  Gen 
tiles.  They're  both  his  wives;  whether  he  has  more 
in  Utah  I  don't  know.  But  you'd  best  let  her  alone. 
She's  been  j'ined  to  him." 


160  DESERT  DUST 

This  took  me  all  aback,  for  I  had  no  other  idea  than 
that  she  was  his  daughter,  or  niece — stood  in  that 
kind  of  relation  to  him.  He  was  twice  her  age,  ap 
parently.  Now  I  could  only  stammer: 

"  I've  no  wish  to  intrude,  you  may  be  sure.  And 
Daniel,  his  son — is  he  married  ?  " 

"That  whelp?  Met  him,  did  you?  No,  he  ain't 
married,  yet.  But  he  will  be,  soon  as  he  takes  his  pick 
'cordin'  to  law  and  gospel  among  them  people.  You 
bet  you:  he'll  be  married  plenty." 


CHAPTER  XI 

WE   GET   A   "  SUPER  " 

WHAT  with  assorting  and  stowing  the  bales  of 
cloth  and  the  other  goods  in  the  Jenks  two  wagons, 
watering  the  animals  and  staking  them  out  anew,  tin 
kering  with  the  equipment  and  making  various  essays 
with  the  bull  whip,  I  found  occupation  enough ;  never 
theless  there  were  moments  of  interim,  or  while  pass 
ing  to  and  fro,  when  I  was  vividly  aware  of  the  scenes 
and  events  transpiring  in  this  Western  world  around 
about. 

The  bugles  sounded  calls  for  the  routine  at  Fort 
Steele — a  mere  cantonment,  yet,  of  tents  and  rough 
board  buildings  squatting  upon  the  bare  brown  soil 
near  the  river  bank,  north  of  us,  and  less  than  a  month 
old.  The  wagon  road  was  a  line  of  white  dust  from 
the  river  clear  to  Benton,  and  through  the  murk  plod 
ded  the  water  haulers  and  emigrants  and  freighters, 
animals  and  men  alike  befloured  and  choked.  The 
dust  cloud  rested  over  Benton.  It  fumed  in  another 
line  westward,  kept  in  suspense  by  on-traveling  stage 
and  wagon — by  wheel,  hoof  and  boot,  bound  for  Utah 
and  Idaho.  From  the  town  there  extended  north 
ward  a  third  dust  line,  marking  the  stage  and  freight- 


162  DESERT  DUST 

ing  road  through  the  Indian  country  to  the  mining 
settlements  of  the  famous  South  Pass  of  the  old  Ore 
gon  Trail ;  yes,  and  with  branches  for  the  gold  regions 
of  Montana. 

The  railroad  trains  kept  thundering  by  us — long 
freights,  dusty  and  indomitable,  bringing  their  loads 
from  the  Missouri  River  almost  seven  hundred  miles 
in  the  east.  And  rolling  out  of  Benton  the  never- 
ceasing  construction  trains  sped  into  the  desert  as  if 
upon  urgent  errands  in  response  to  some  sudden  de 
mand  of  More,  More,  More. 

Upon  all  sides  beyond  this  business  and  energy  the 
country  stretched  lone  and  uninhabited;  a  great  waste 
of  naked,  hot,  resplendent  land  blotched  with  white 
and  red,  showing  not  a  green  spot  except  the  course 
of  the  Platte;  with  scorched,  rusty  hills  rising  above 
its  fantastic  surface,  and,  in  the  distance,  bluish  moun 
tain  ranges  that  appeared  to  float  and  waver  in  the 
sun-drenched  air. 

The  sounds  from  Benton — the  hammering,  the 
shouting,  the  babbling,  the  puffing  of  the  locomotives 
— drifted  faintly  to  us,  merged  into  the  cracking  of 
whips  and  the  oaths  and  songs  by  the  wagon  drivers 
along  the  road.  Of  our  own  little  camp  I  took  grad 
ual  stock. 

It,  like  the  desert  reaches,  evinced  little  of  fever- 
ishness,  for  while  booted  men  busied  themselves  at 
tasks  similar  to  mine,  others  lolled,  spinning  yarns  and 
whittling;  the  several  women,  at  wash-boards  and  at 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  163 

pots  and  pans  and  needles,  worked  contentedly  in  sun 
and  shade;  children  played  at  makeshift  games,  dogs 
drowsed  underneath  the  wagons,  and  outside  our  cir 
cle  the  mules  and  oxen  grazed  as  best  they  might,  their 
only  vexation  the  blood-sucking  flies.  The  flies  were 
kin  of  Benton. 

Captain  Adams  loped  away,  as  if  to  town.  Others 
went  in.  While  I  was  idle  at  last  and  rather  enjoying 
the  hot  sun  as  I  sat  resting  upon  a  convenient  wagon- 
tongue  Daniel  hulked  to  me,  still  snapping  his  ox 
goad. 

"  Haowdy  ?  "  he  addressed  again ;  and  surveyed,  ey 
ing  every  detail  of  my  clothing. 

"Howdy?"  said  I. 

"Yu  know  me?" 

"  Your  name  is  Daniel,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"  No,  'tain't.     It's  Bonnie  Bravo  on  the  trail." 

"  All  right,  sir,"  said  I.     "  Whichever  you  prefer." 

"  I  'laow  we  pull  out  this  arternoon,"  he  volun 
teered  farther. 

"  I'm  agreeable,"  I  responded.  "  The  sooner  the 
better,  where  I'm  concerned." 

"  I  'laow  yu  (and  he  pronounced  it,  nasally,  yee-ou) 
been  seein'  the  elephant  in  Benton  an'  it  skinned  yu." 

"  I  saw  all  of  Benton  I  wish  to  see,"  I  granted. 
"You've  been  there?" 

"  I  won  four  bits,  an'  then  yu  bet  I  quit,"  he  greed 
ily  proclaimed.  "  I  was  too  smart  for  'em.  I  'laow 
yu're  a  greenie,  ain't  yu  ?  " 


164  DESERT  DUST 

"  In  some  ways  I  am,  in  some  ways  I'm  not." 

"  I  'laow  yu  aim  to  go  through  with  this  tram  to 
Salt  Lake,  do  yu  ?  " 

"  That's  the  engagement  I've  made  with  Mr. 
Jenks." 

"  Don't  feel  too  smart,  yoreself,  in  them  new 
clothes  ?  " 

"  No.  They're  all  I  have.  They  won't  be  new 
long." 

"  Yu  bet  they  won't.  Ain't  afeared  of  peterin* 
aout  on  the  way,  be  yu?  I  'laow  yu're  sickly." 

"  I'll  take  my  chances,"  I  smiled,  although  he  was 
irritating  in  the  extreme. 

.  "  It's  four  hunderd  mile,  an'  twenty  mile  at  a 
stretch  withaout  water.  Most  the  water's  pizen,  too, 
from  hyar  to  the  mountings." 

"  I'll  have  to  drink  what  the*  rest  drink,  I  suppose." 

"  I  'laow  the  Injuns  are  like  to  get  us.  They're 
powerful  bad  in  that  thar  desert.  Ain't  afeared  o' 
Injuns,  be  yu  ?  " 

"  I'll  have  to  take  my  chances  on  that,  too,  won't 
I?" 

"  They  sculped  a  whole  passel  o'  surveyors,  month 
ago,"  he  persisted.  "  Yu'll  sing  a  different  tyune 
arter  yu've  been  corralled  with  nothin'  to  drink."  He 
viciously  snapped  his  whip,  the  while  inspecting  me  as 
,  if  seeking  for  other  joints  in  my  armor.  "  Yu  aim  to 
stay  long  in  ZJon  ?  " 

"  I  haven't  planned  anything  about  that." 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  165 

"Reckon    yu're    wise,    Mister.      We    don't    think 
much  o'  Gentiles,  yonder.     We  don't  want  'em,  no- 
haow.     They'd  all  better  git  aout.     The  Saints  set-  • 
tied  that  country  an'  it's-ourn." 

"  If  you're  a  sample,  you're  welcome  to  live  there," 
I  retorted.  "  I  think  I'd  prefer  some  place  else." 

"Haow?"  he  bleated.  "Thar  ain't  no  place  as 
good.  All  the  rest  the  world  has  sold  itself  to  the 
devil." 

"  How  much  of  the  world  have  you  seen?  "  I  asked. 

"  I've  seen  a  heap.  I've  been  as  fur  east  as  Chey 
enne — I've  teamed  acrost  twice,  so  I  know.  An'  I 
know  what  the  elders  say;  they  come  from  the  East 
an'  some  of  'em  have  been  as  fur  as  England.  Yu 
can't  fool  me  none  with  yore  Gentile  lies." 

As  I  did  not  attempt,  we  remained  in  silence  for  a 
moment  while  he  waited,  provocative. 

"  Say,  Mister,"  he  blurted  suddenly.  "  Kin  yu 
shoot?" 

"  I  presume  I  could  if  I  had  to.    NVTiy?  " 

"  Becttz  I'm  the  dangest  best  shot  with  a  Colt's  in 
this  hyar  train,  an*  I'll  shoot  ye  for — I'll  shoot  ye  for 
(he  lowered  nis  voice  and  glanced  about  furtively) — 
I'll  shoot  ye  for  two  bits  wheruny  paw  ain't  'raound." 

"  I've  no  cartridges  to  waste  at  present,"  I  in 
formed.  "And  I  don't  claim  to  be  a  crack  shot." 

"  Damn  ye,  I  bet  yu  think  yu  are,"  he  accused. 
"  Yu  set  thar  like  it.  All  right,  Mister;  any  time  yu 
want  to  try  a  little  poppin'  yu  let  me  know."  And 


i66  DESERT  DUST 

with  this,  which  struck  me  as  a  veiled  threat,  he 
lurched  on,  snapping  that  infernal  whip. 

He  left  me  with  the  uneasy  impression  that  he  and 
I  were  due  to  measure  strength  in  one  way  or  another. 

Wagon  Boss  Adams  returned  at  noon.  The  word 
was  given  out  that  the  train  should  start  during  the 
afternoon,  for  a  short  march  in  order  to  break  in  the 
new  animals  before  tackling  the  real  westward  trail. 

After  a  deal  of  bustle,  of  lashing  loads  and  tauten 
ing  covers  and  geeing,  hawing  and  whoaing,  about 
three  o'clock  we  formed  line  in  obedience  to  the  com 
mands  "  Stretch  out,  stretch  out !  " ;  and  with  every 
cask  and  barrel  dripping,  whips  cracking,  voices  urg 
ing,  children  racing,  the  Captain  Adams  wagon  in  the 
lead  (two  pink  sunbonnets  upon  the  seat),  the  valor 
ous  Daniel's  next,  and  Mormons  and  Gentiles  ranging 
on  down,  we  toiled  creaking  and  swaying  up  the  Ben- 
ton  road,  amidst  the  eddies  of  hot,  scalding  dust. 

It  was  a  mixed  train,  of  Gentile  mules  and  the  more 
numerous  Mormon  oxen;  therefore  not  strictly  a 
"  bull "  train,  but  by  pace  designated  as  such.  And 
in  the  vernacular  I  was  a  "  mule-whacker  "  or  even 
"mule-skinner"  rather  than  a  "bull-whacker,"  if 
there  is  any  appreciable  difference  in  role.  There  is 
none,  I  think,  to  the  animals. 

Trudging  manfully  at  the  left  fore  wheel  behind 
Mr.  Jenks'  four  span  of  mules,  trailing  my  eighteen- 
foot  tapering  lash  and  occasionally  well-nigh  cutting 
off  my  own  ear  when  I  tried  to  throw  it,  I  played  the 


WE  GET  A  "  SUPER  "  167 

teamster — although  sooth  to  say  there  was  little  of 
play  in  the  job,  on  that  road,  at  that  time  of  the  day. 

The  sun  was  more  vexatious,  being  an  hour  lower, 
when  we  bravely  entered  Benton's  boiling  main  street. 
We  made  brief  halt  for  the  finishing  up  of  business; 
and  cleaving  a  lane  through  the  pedestrians  and  ve 
hicles  and  animals  there  congregated,  the  challenges 
of  the  street  gamblers  having  assailed  us  in  vain,  we 
proceeded — our  Mormons  gazing  straight  ahead, 
scornful  of  the  devil's  enticements,  our  few  Gentiles 
responding  in  kind  to  the  quips  and  waves  and  salu 
tations. 

Thus  we  eventually  left  Benton ;  in  about  an  hour's 
march  or  some  three  miles  out  we  formed  corral  for 
camp  on  the  farther  side  of  the  road  from  the  rail 
road  tracks  which  we  had  been  skirting. 

Travel,  except  upon  the  tracks  (for  they  were 
rarely  vacant)  ceased  at  sundown;  and  we  all,  having 
eaten  our  suppers,  were  sitting  by  our  fires,  smoking 
and  talking,  with  the  sky  crimson  in  the  west  and  the 
desert  getting  mysterious  with  purple  shadows,  when 
as  another  construction  train  of  box  cars  and  plat 
form  cars  clanked  by  I  chanced  to  note  a  figure  spring 
out  asprawl,  alight  with  a  whiffle  of  sand,  and  stag 
gering  up  hasten  for  us. 

First  it  accosted  the  hulk  Daniel,  who  was  tempo 
rarily  out  on  herd,  keeping  the  animals  from  the 
tracks.  I  saw  him  lean  from  his  saddle ;  then  he  rode 
spurring  in,  bawling  like  a  calf : 


168  DESERT  DUST 

"  Paw !  Paw !  Hey,  yu-all !  Thar's  a  woman 
yonder  in  britches  an'  she  'laows  to  come  on.  She's 
lookin'  for  Mister  Jenks." 

Save  for  his  excited  stuttering  silence  reigned,  a 
minute.  Then  in  a  storm  of  rude  raillery — "  That's 
a  hoss  on  you,  George !  "  "  Didn't  know  you  owned 
one  o'  them  critters,  George,"  "  Does  she  wear  the 
britches,  George  ?  "  and  so  forth — my  friend  Jenks 
arose,  peering,  his  whiskered  mouth  so  agape  that  he 
almost  dropped  his  pipe.  And  we  all  peered,  with  the 
women  of  the  caravan  smitten  mute  but  intensely 
curious,  while  the  solitary  figure,  braving  our  stares, 
came  on  to  the  fires. 

"  Gawd  almighty !  "  Mr.  Jenks  delivered. 

Likewise  straightening  I  mentally  repeated  the 
ejaculation,  for  now  I  knew  her  as  well  as  he.  Yes, 
by  the  muttered  babble  others  in  our  party  knew  her. 
It  was  My  Lady — formerly  My  Lady — clad  in  em 
broidered  short  Spanish  jacket,  tightish  velvet  panta 
loons,  booted  to  the  knees,  pulled  down  upon  her  yel 
low  hair  a  black  soft  hat,  and  hanging  from  the  just- 
revealed  belt  around  her  slender  waist,  a  revolver 
trifle. 

She  paused,  small  and  alone,  viewing  us,  her  eyes 
very  blue,  her  face  very  white. 

"  Is  Mr.  Jenks  there  ?  "  she  hailed  clearly. 

"  Damn'  if  I  ain't,"  he  mumbled.  He  glowered  at 
me.  "  Yes,  ma'am,  right  hyar.  You  want  to  speak 
with  me  ? 


WE  GET  A  "  SUPER  "  169 

"  By  gosh,  it's  Montoyo's  woman,  ain't  it  ?  "  were 
the  comments. 

"  I  do,  sir." 

"  You  can  come  on  closer  then,  ma'am,"  he 
growled.  "  There  ain't  no  secrets  between  us." 

Come  on  she  did,  with  only  an  instant's  hesitation 
and  a  little  compression  of  the  lips.  She  swept  our 
group  fearlessly — her  gaze  crossed  mine,  but  she  be 
trayed  no  sign. 

"  I  wish  to  engage  passage  to  Salt  Lake." 

"  With  this  hyar  train  ?  "  gasped  Jenks. 

"Yes.  You  are  bound  for  Salt  Lake,  aren't 
you?" 

"  For  your  health,  ma'am  ?  "  he  stammered. 

She  faintly  smiled,  but  her  eyes  were  steady  and 
wide. 

"  For  my  health.  I'd  like  to  throw  in  with  your 
outfit.  I  will  cook,  keep  camp,  and  pay  you  well  be 
sides." 

"We  haven't  no  place  for  a  woman,  ma'am.  You'd 
best  take  the  stage." 

"  No.  There'll  be  no  stage  out  till  morning.  I 
want  to  make  arrangements  at  once — with  you. 
There  are  other  women  in  this  train."  She  flashed  a 
glance  around.  "And  I  can  take  care  of  myself." 

"  If  you  aim  to  go  to  Salt  Lake  your  main  holt  is 
Benton  and  the  stage.  The  stage  makes  through  in 
four  days  and  we'll  use  thirty,"  somebody  counseled. 

"An'  this  bull  train  ain't  no  place  for  yore  kind, 


170  DESERT  DUST 

anyhow,"  grumbled  another.  "  We've  quit  roarin' — 
we've  cut  loose  from  that  hell-hole  yonder." 

"  So  have  I."  But  she  did  not  turn  on  him.  "  I'm 
never  going  back.  I — I  can't,  now;  not  even  for  the 
stage.  Will  you  permit  me  to  travel  with  you,  sir  ?  " 

"  No,  ma'am,  I  won't,"  rasped  Mr.  Jenks.  "  I  can't 
do  it.  It's  not  in  my  line,  ma'am." 

"  I'll  be  no  trouble.  You  have  only  Mr.  Beeson. 
I  don't  ask  to  ride.  I'll  walk.  I  merely  ask  protec 
tion." 

"  So  do  we,"  somebody  sniggered ;  and  I  hated  him, 
for  I  saw  her  sway  upon  her  feet  as  if  the  words  had 
been  a  blow. 

"  No,  ma'am,  I'm  full  up.  I  wouldn't  take  on  even 
a  yaller  dog,  'specially  a  she  one,"  Jenks  announced. 
"  What  your  game  is  now  I  can't  tell,  and  I  don't  pro 
pose  to  be  eddicated  to  it.  But  you  can't  travel  along 
with  me,  and  that's  straight  talk.  If  you  can  put  any 
thing  over  on  these  other  fellers,  try  your  luck." 

"  Oh ! "  she  cried,  wincing.  Her  hands  clenched 
nervously,  a  red  spot  dyed  either  cheek  as  she  ap 
pealed  to  us  all.  "Gentlemen!  Won't  one  of  you 
help  me?  What  are  you  afraid  of?  I  can  pay  my 
way — I  ask  no  favors — I  swear  to  you  that  I'll  give 
no  trouble.  I  only  wish  protection  across." 

"  Where's  Pedro  ?     Where's  Montoyo  ?  " 

She  turned  quickly,  facing  the  jeer;  her  two  eyes 
blazed,  the  red  spots  deepened  angrily. 

"He?     That  snake?     I  shot  him." 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  171 

"What!  You?  Killed  him?"  Exclamations 
broke  from  all  quarters. 

She  stamped  her  foot. 

"  No.  I  didn't  have  to.  But  when  he  tried  to 
abuse  me  I  defended  myself.  Wasn't  that  right,  gen 
tlemen  ? " 

"  Right  or  wrong,  he'll  be  after  you,  won't  he  ?  " 

The  question  held  a  note  of  alarm.     Her  lip  curled. 

"  You  needn't  fear.     I'll  meet  him,  myself." 

"  By  gosh,  I  don't  mix  up  in  no  quarrel  'twixt  a 
man  and  his  woman."  And — "  'Tain't  our  affair. 
When  he  comes  he'll  come  a-poppin'."  Such  were 
the  hasty  comments.  I  felt  a  peculiar  heat,  a  revul 
sion  of  shame  and  indignation,  which  made  the  pres 
ent  seem  much  more  important  than  the  past.  And 
there  was  the  recollection  of  her,  crying,  and  still  the 
accents  of  her  last  appeals  in  the  early  morning. 

"  I  thought  that  I  might  find  men  among  you,"  she 
disdainfully  said — a  break  in  her  voice.  "  So  I  came. 
But  you're  afraid  of  him — of  that  breed,  that  vest- 
pocket  killer.  And  you're  afraid  of  me,  a  woman 
whose  cards  are  all  on  the  table.  There  isn't  a  one  of 
you — even  you,  Mr.  Beeson,  sir,  whom  I  tried  to  be 
friend  although  you  may  not  know  it."  And  she 
turned  upon  me.  "  You  have  not  a  word  to  say.  I 
am  never  going  back,  I  tell  you  all.  You  won't  take 
me,  any  of  you?  Very  well."  She  smiled  wanly. 
"  I'll  drift  along,  gentlemen.  I'll  play  the  lone  hand. 
Montoyo  shall  never  seize  me.  I'd  rather  trust  to  the 


172  DESERT  DUST 

wolves  and  the  Indians.  There'll  be  another  wagon 
train." 

"  I  am  only  an  employee,  madam,"  I  faltered.  "  If 
I  had  an  outfit  of  my  own  I  certainly  would  help 
you." 

She  flushed  painfully;  she  did  not  glance  at  me  di 
rect  again,  but  her  unspoken  thanks  enfolded  me. 

"  Here's  the  wagon  boss,"  Jenks  grunted,  and  spat. 
"  Mebbe  you  can  throw  in  with  him.  When  it  comes 
to  supers,  that's  his  say-so.  I've  all  I  can  tend  to,  my 
self,  and  I  don't  look  for  trouble.  I've  got  no  love 
for  Montoyo,  neither,"  he  added.  "  Damned  if  I 
ain't  glad  you  give  him  a  dose." 

Murmurs  of  approval  echoed  him,  as  if  the  tide 
were  turning  a  little.  All  this  time — not  long,  how 
ever — Daniel  had  been  sitting  his  mule,  transfixed  and 
gaping,  his  oddly  wry  eyes  upon  her.  Now  the  large 
form  of  Captain  Adams  came  striding  in  contentious, 
through  the  gathering  dusk. 

"  What's  this  ?  "  he  demanded  harshly.  "  An  un 
godly  woman?  I'll  have  no  trafficking  in  my  train. 
Get  you  gone,  Delilah.  Would  you  pursue  us  even 
here?" 

"  I  am  going,  sir,"  she  replied.  "  I  ask  nothing 
from  you  or  these — gentlemen." 

"Them's  the  two  she's  after,  paw:  Jenks  an'  that 
greenie,"  Daniel  bawled.  "  They  know  her.  She's 
f ollered  'em.  She  aims  to  travel  with  'em.  Oh,  gosh ! 
She's  shot  her  man  in  Benton.  Gosh ! "  His  voice 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  173 

trailed  off.  "  Ain't  she  purty,  though !  She's  dressed 
in  britches." 

"  Get  you  gone,"  Captain  Adams  thundered. 
"  And  these  your  paramours  with  you.  For  thus 
saith  the  Lord:  There  shall  be  no  lusting  of  adultery 
among  his  chosen.  And  thus  say  I,  that  no  brazen 
hussy  in  men's  garments  shall  travel  with  this  train 
to  Zion — no,  not  a  mile  of  the  way." 

Jenks  stiffened,  bristling. 

"  Mind  your  words,  Adams.  I'm  under  no  Mor 
mon  thumb,  and  I'll  thank  you  not  to  connect  me  and 
this — lady  in  ary  such  fashion.  As  for  your  brat  on 
horseback,  he'd  better  hold  his  yawp.  She  came  of 
her  own  hook,  and  damned  if  I  ain't  beginnin'  to 
think " 

I  sprang  forward.  Defend  her  I  must.  She 
should  not  stand  there,  slight,  lovely,  brave  but  droop 
ing,  aflame  with  the  helplessness  of  a  woman  alone 
and  insulted. 

"  Wait !  "  I  implored.  "  Give  her  a  chance.  You 
haven't  heard  her  story.  All  she  wants  is  protection 
on  the  road.  Yes,  I  know  her,  and  I  know  the  cur 
she's  getting  away  from.  I  saw  him  strike  her;  so 
did  Mr.  Jenks.  What  were  you  intending  to  do? 
Turn  her  out  into  the  night?  Shame  on  you,  sir. 
She  says  she  can't  go  back  to  Benton,  and  if  you'll 
be  humane  enough  to  understand  why,  you'll  at  least 
let  her  stay  in  your  camp  till  morning.  You've  got 
women  there  who'll  care  for  her,  I  hope." 


I74  DESERT  DUST 

I  felt  her  instant  look.    She  spoke  palpitant. 

"  You  have  one  man  among  you  all.  But  I  am  go 
ing.  Good-night,  gentlemen." 

"  No !  Wait !  "  I  begged.  "  You  shall  not  go  by 
yourself.  I'll  see  you  into  safety." 

Daniel  cackled. 

"Haw  haw!  What'd  I  tell  yu,  paw?  Hear 
him?" 

"  By  gum,  the  boy's  right,"  Jenks  declared.  "  Will 
you  go  back  to  Benton  if  we  take  you?  "  he  queried 
of  her.  "Are  you  'feared  of  Montoyo?  Can  he 
shoot  still,  or  is  he  laid  out  ?  " 

"  I'll  not  go  back  to  Benton,  and  I'm  not  afraid  of 
that  bully,"  said  she.  "  Yes,  he  can  shoot,  still ;  but 
next  time  I  should  kill  him.  I  hope  never  to  see  him 
again,  or  Benton  either." 

The  men  murmured. 

"  You've  got  spunk,  anyhow,"  said  they.  And  by 
further  impulse:  "  Let  her  stay  the  night,  Cap'n.  It'll 
be  plumb  dark  soon.  She  won't  harm  ye.  Some  o' 
the  woman  folks  can  take  care  of  her." 

Captain  Adams  had  been  frowning  sternly,  his 
heavy  face  unsoftened. 

"  Who  are  you,  woman?  " 

"  I  am  the  wife  of  a  gambler  named  Montoyo." 

"  Why  come  you  here,  then  ?  " 

"  He  has  been  abusing  me,  and  I  shot  him." 

"There  is  blood  on  your  hands?  Are  you  a  mur 
deress  as  well  as  a  harlot  ?  " 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  175 

"  Shame ! "  cried  voices,  mine  among  them. 
"  That's  tall  language." 

Strangely,  and  yet  not  strangely,  sentiment  had 
veered.  We  were  Americans — and  had  we  been  Eng 
lish  that  would  have  made  no  difference.  It  was  the 
Anglo-Saxon  which  gave  utterance. 

She  crimsoned,  defiant ;  laughed  scornfully. 

"  You  would  not  dare  bait  a  man  that  way,  sir. 
Blood  on  my  hands?  Not  blood;  oh,  no!  He 
couldn't  pan  out  blood." 

"  You  killed  him,  woman  ?  " 

"  Not  yet.  He's  likely  fleecing  the  public  in  the 
Big  Tent  at  this  very  moment." 

"  And  what  did  you  expect  here,  in  my  train  ?  " 

"  A  little  manhood  and  a  little  chivalry,  sir.  I 
am  going  to  Salt  Lake  and  I  knew  of  no  safer 
way." 

"  She  jumped  off  a  railway  train,  paw,"  bawled 
Daniel.  "  I  seen  her.  An*  she  axed  for  Mister  Jenks, 
fust  thing." 

"  I'll  give  you  something  to  stop  that  yawp.  Come 
mornin',  we'll  settle,  young  feller,"  my  friend  Jenks 
growled. 

"  I  did,"  she  admitted.  "  I  have  seen  Mr.  Jenks ;  I 
have  also  seen  Mr.  Beeson;  I  have  seen  others  of  you 
in  Benton.  I  was  glad  to  know  of  somebody  here.  I 
rode  on  the  construction  train  because  it  was  the 
quickest  and  easiest  way." 

"  And  those  garments !  "  Captain  Adams  accused. 


iy6  DESERT  DUST 

"  You  wish  to  show  your  shape,  woman,  to  tempt 
men's  eyes  with  the  flesh  ?  " 

She  smiled. 

"  Would  you  have  me  jump  from  a  train  in  skirts, 
sir?  Or  travel  far  afoot  in  crinoline?  But  to  soothe 
your  mind  I  will  say  that  I  wore  these  clothes  under 
my  proper  attire  and  cloak  until  the  last  moment. 
And  if  you  turn  me  away  I  shall  cut  my  hair  and  con 
tinue  as  a  boy." 

"  If  you  are  for  Salt  Lake — where  we  are  of  the 
Lord's  choosing  and  wish  none  of  you — there  is  the 
stage,"  he  prompted  shrewdly.  "  Go  to  the  stage. 
You  cannot  make  this  wagon  train  your  instrument." 

"The  stage?"  She  slowly  shook  her  head. 
"  Why,  I  am  too  well  known,  sir,  take  that  as  you 
will.  And  the  stage  does  not  leave  until  morning. 
Much  might  happen  between  now  and  morning.  I 
have  nobody  in  Benton  that  I  can  depend  upon — no 
body  that  I  dare  depend  upon.  And  by  railway,  for 
the  East?  No.  That  is  too  open  a  trail.  I  am  run 
ning  free  of  Benton  and  Pedro  Montoyo,  and  stage 
and  train  won't  do  the  trick.  I've  thought  that  out." 
She  tossed  back  her  head,  deliberately  turned. 
"  Good-night,  ladies  and  gentlemen." 

Involuntarily  I  started  forward  to  intercept.  The 
notion  of  her  heading  into  the  vastness  and  the  gloom 
was  appalling;  the  inertness  of  that  increasing  group, 
formed  now  of  both  men  and  women  collected  from 
all  the  camp,  maddened.  So  I  would  have  besought 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  177 

her,  pleaded  with  her,  faced  Montoyo  for  her — but  a 
new  voice  mediated. 

"  She  shall  stay,  Hyrum  ?  For  the  night,  at  least  ? 
I  will  look  after  her." 

The  Captain's  younger  wife,  Rachael,  had  stepped 
to  him ;  laid  one  hand  upon  his  arm — her  smooth  hair 
touched  ashine  by  the  firelight  as  she  gazed  up  into 
his  face.  Pending  reply  I  hastened  directly  to  My 
Lady  herself  and  detained  her  by  her  jacket  sleeve. 

"  Wait,"  I  bade. 

Whereupon  we  both  turned.  Side  by  side  we 
fronted  the  group  as  if  we  might  have  been  partners 
— which,  in  a  measure,  we  were,  but  not  wholy  ac 
cording  to  the  lout  Daniel's  cackle  and  the  suddenly 
interrogating  countenances  here  and  there. 

"  You  would  take  her  in,  Rachael  ?  "  the  Captain 
rumbled.  "  Have  you  not  heard  what  I  said  ?  " 

"  We  are  commanded  to  feed  the  hungry  and  shel 
ter  the  homeless,  Hyrum." 

"  Verily  that  is  so.  Take  her.  I  trust  you  with 
her  till  the  morning.  The  Lord  will  direct  us  further. 
But  in  God's  name  clothe  her  for  the  daylight  in  de 
cency.  She  shall  not  advertise  her  flesh  to  men's 
eyes." 

"  Quick ! "  I  whispered,  with  a  push.  Rachael, 
however,  had  crossed  for  us,  and  with  eyes  brimming 
extended  her  hand. 

"  Will  you  come  with  me,  please  ?  "  she  invited. 

"  You  are  not  afraid  of  me?  " 


178  DESERT  DUST 

"I?  No.  You  are  a  woman,  are  you  not?  "  The 
intonation  was  gentle,  and  sweet  to  hear — as  sweet  as 
her  rosy  face  to  see. 

"  Yes,"  sighed  My  Lady,  wearily.  "  Good-night, 
sir."  She  fleetingly  smiled  upon  me.  "  I  thank  you ; 
and  Mr.  Jenks." 

They  went,  Rachael's  arm  about  her;  other  women 
closed  in ;  we  heard  exclamations,  and  next  they  were 
supporting  her  in  their  midst,  for  she  had  crumpled 
in  a  faint. 

Captain  Adams  walked  out  a  piece  as  if  musing. 
Daniel  pressed  beside  him,  talking  eagerly.  His  voice 
reached  me. 

"  She's  powerful  purty,  ain't  she,  paw !  Gosh,  I 
never  seen  a  woman  in  britches  before.  Did  yu? 
Paw!  She  kin  ride  in  my  wagon,  paw.  Be  yu  goin' 
to  take  her  on,  paw?  If  yu  be,  I  got  room." 

"  Go.  Tend  to  your  stock  and  think  of  other 
things,"  boomed  his  father.  "  Remember  that  the 
Scriptures  say,  beware  of  the  scarlet  woman." 

Daniel  galloped  away,  whooping  like  an  idiot. 

"  Wall,  there  she  is,"  my  friend  Jenks  remarked 
non-committally.  "  What  next'll  happen,  we'll  see  in 
the  mornin'.  Either  she  goes  on  or  she  goes  back.  I 
don't  claim  to  read  Mormon  sign,  myself.  But  she 
had  me  jumpin'  sideways,  for  a  spell.  So  did  that 
young  whelp." 

There  was  some  talk,  idle  yet  not  offensive.  The 
men  appeared  rather  in  a  judicial  frame  of  mind: 


WE  GET  A  "SUPER"  179 

laid  a  few  bets  upon  whether  her  husband  would  turn 
up,  in  sober  fashion  nodded  their  heads  over  the  hope 
that  he  had  been  "  properly  pinked,"  all  in  all  sided 
with  her,  while  admiring  her  pluck  roundly  denied 
responsibility  for  women  in  general,  and  genially  but 
cautiously  twitted  Mr.  Jenks  and  me  upon  our  alleged 
implication  in  the  affair. 

Darkness,  still  and  chill,  had  settled  over  the  desert 
— the  only  discernible  horizon  the  glow  of  Benton, 
down  the  railroad  track.  The  ashes  of  final  pipes 
were  rapped  out  upon  our  boot  soles.  Our  group  dis 
persed,  each  man  to  his  blanket  under  the  wagons  or 
in  the  open. 

"  Wall,"  friend  Jenks  again  broadly  uttered,  in 
last  words  as  he  turned  over  with  a  grunt,  for  easier 
posture,  near  me,  "hooray!  If  it  simmers  down  to 
you  and  Dan'l,  I'll  be  there." 

With  that  enigmatical  comment  he  was  silent  save 
for  stertorous  breathing.  Vaguely  cogitating  over 
his  promise  I  lay,  toes  and  face  up,  staring  at  the 
bright  stars;  perplexed  more  and  more  over  the  im 
mediate  events  of  the  future,  warmly  conscious  of 
her  astonishing  proximity  in  this  very  train,  prickled 
by  the  hope  that  she  would  continue  with  us,  irritated 
by  the  various  assumptions  of  Daniel,  and  somehow 
not  at  all  adverse  to  the  memory  of  her  in  "  britches." 

That  phase  of  the  matter  seemed  to  have  affected 
Daniel  and  me  similarly.  Under  his  hide  he  was  hu 
man. 


CHAPTER  XII 

DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION 

I  WAS  more  than  ever  convinced  of  her  wisdom  in 
choice  of  garb  when  in  early  morning  I  glimpsed  her 
with  the  two  other  women  at  the  Adams  fire;  for, 
bright-haired  and  small,  she  had  been  sorrily  dulled 
by  the  plain  ill-fitting  waist  and  long  shapeless  skirt 
in  one  garment,  as  adopted  by  the  feminine  contin 
gent  of  the  train.  In  her  particular  case  these  were 
worse  fitting  and  longer  than  common — an  artifice 
that  certainly  snuffed  a  portion  of  her  charms  for 
Gentile  and  Mormon  eyes  alike. 

What  further  disposition  of  her  was  to  be  made 
we  might  not  yet  know.  We  all  kept  to  our  own  tasks 
and  our  own  fires,  with  the  exception  that  Daniel 
gawked  and  strutted  in  the  manner  of  a  silly  gander, 
and  made  frequent  errands  to  his  father's  household. 

It  was  after  the  red  sun-up  and  the  initial  signal 
ing  by  dust  cloud  to  dust  cloud  announcing  the  com 
mencement  of  another  day's  desert  traffic,  and  in  re 
sponse  to  the  orders  "  Ketch  up !  "  we  were  putting 
animals  to  wagons  (My  Lady  still  in  evidence  for 
ward),  when  a  horseman  bored  in  at  a  gallop,  over 
the  road  from  the  east. 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          181 

"  Montoyo,  by  Gawd ! "  Jenks  pronounced,  in  a 
grumble  of  disgust  rather  than  with  any  note  of 
alarm.  "  Look  alive."  And — "  He  don't  hang  up 
my  pelt;  no,  nor  yourn  if  I  can  help  it.'* 

I  saw  him  give  a  twitch  to  his  holster  and  slightly 
loosen  the  Colt's.  But  I  was  unburthened  by  guilt  in 
past  events,  and  I  conceived  no  reason  for  fearing 
the  future — other  than  that  now  I  was  likely  to 
lose  her.  Heaven  pity  her!  Probably  she  would 
have  to  go,  even  if  she  managed  later  to  kill  him. 
The  delay  in  our  start  had  been  unfortunate. 

It  was  dollars  to  doughnuts  that  every  man  in  the 
company  had  had  his  eye  out  for  Montoyo,  since  day 
light;  and  the  odds  were  that  every  man  had  sighted 
him  as  quickly  as  we.  Notwithstanding,  save  by  an 
occasional  quick  glance  none  appeared  to  pay  atten 
tion  to  his  rapid  approach.  We  ourselves  went  right 
along  hooking  up,  like  the  others. 

As  chanced,  our  outfit  was  the  first  upon  his  way 
in.  I  heard  him  rein  sharply  beside  us  and  his 
horse  fidget,  panting.  Not  until  he  spoke  did  we  lift 
eyes. 

"  Howdy,  gentlemen  ?  " 

"  Howdy  yourself,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Jenks, 
straightening  up  and  meeting  his  gaze.  I  paused,  to 
gaze  also.  Montoyo  was  pale  as  death,  his  lips  hard 
set,  his  peculiar  gray  eyes  and  his  black  moustache  the 
only  vivifying  features  in  his  coldly  menacing  counte 
nance. 


182  DESERT  DUST 

He  was  in  white  linen  shirt,  his  left  arm  slung;  fine 
riding  boots  encasing  his  legs  above  the  knees  and 
Spanish  spurs  at  their  heels — his  horse's  flanks  red 
dened  by  their  jabs.  The  pearl  butt  of  a  six-shooter 
jutted  from  his  belt  holster.  He  sat  jaunty,  except 
ing  for  his  lips  and  eyes. 

He  looked  upon  me,  with  a  trace  of  recognition  less 
to  be  seen  than  felt.  His  glance  leaped  to  the  wagon 
— traveled  swiftly  and  surely  and  returned  to  Mr. 
Jenks. 

"  You're  pulling  out,  I  believe." 

"  Yes,  you  bet  yuh." 

"  This  is  the  Adams  train?  " 

"  It  is." 

"  I'm  looking  for  my  wife,  gentlemen.  May  I  ask 
whether  you've  seen  her  ?  " 

"  You  can." 

"  You  have  seen  her  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  We'll  not  beat  around  any  bush  over 
that." 

He  meditated,  frowning  a  bit,  eying  us  narrowly. 

"  I  had  the  notion,"  he  said.  "If  you  have  staked 
her  to  shelter  I  thank  you ;  but  now  I  aim  to  play  the 
hand  myself.  This  is  a  strictly  private  game.  Where 
is  she?" 

"  I  call  yuh,  Pedro,"  my  friend  answered.  "  We 
ain't  keepin'  cases  on  her,  or  on  you.  You  don't  find 
her  in  my  outfit,  that's  flat.  She  spent  the  night  with 
the  Adams  women.  You'll  find  her  waitin'  for  you, 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          183 

on  ahead."  He  grinned.  "  She'll  be  powerful  glad 
to  see  you."  He  sobered.  "And  I'll  say  this:  I'm 
kinder  sorry  I  ain't  got  her,  for  she'd  be  interestin' 
company  on  the  road." 

"  The  road  to  hell,  yes,"  Montoyo  coolly  re 
marked.  "  I'd  guarantee  you  quick  passage.  Good- 
day." 

With  sudden  steely  glare  that  embraced  us  both  he 
jumped  his  mount  into  a  gallop  and  tore  past  the 
team,  for  the  front.  He  must  have  inquired,  once  or 
twice,  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  Captain's  party; 
I  saw  fingers  pointing. 

"  Here !  You've  swapped  collars  on  your  lead 
span,  boy,"  Mr.  Jenks  reproved — but  he  likewise 
fumbling  while  he  gazed. 

I  could  hold  back  no  longer. 

"  Just  a  minute,  if  you  please,"  I  pleaded ;  and 
hastened  on  up,  half  running  in  my  anxiety  to  face 
the  worst;  to  help,  if  I  might,  for  the  best. 

A  little  knot  of  people  had  formed,  constantly  in 
creasing  by  oncomers  like  myself  and  friend  Jenks 
who  had  lumbered  behind  me.  Montoyo's  horse 
stood  heaving,  on  the  outskirts;  and  ruthlessly  push 
ing  through  I  found  him  inside,  with  My  Lady  at 
bay  before  him — her  eyes  brilliant,  her  cheeks  hot, 
her  two  hands  clenched  tightly,  her  slim  figure  dan 
gerously  tense  within  her  absurd  garment,  and  the 
arm  of  the  brightly  flushed  but  calm  Rachael  resting 
restraintfully  around  her.  The  circling  faces  peered. 


i84  DESERT  DUST 

Captain  Adams,  at  one  side  apart,  was  replying 
to  the  gambler.  His  small  china-blue  eyes  had  begun 
to  glint;  otherwise  he  maintained  an  air  of  stolidity 
as  if  immune  to  the  outcome. 

"  You  see  her,"  he  said.  "  She  has  had  the  care 
of  my  own  household,  for  I  turn  nobody  away.  She 
came  against  my  will,  and  she  shall  go  of  her  will. 
I  am  not  her  keeper." 

"  You  Mormons  have  the  advantage  of  us  white 
men,  sir,"  Montoyo  sneered.  "  No  one  of  the  sex 
seems  to  be  denied  bed  and  board  in  your  establish 
ments." 

"  By  the  help  of  the  Lord  we  of  the  elect  can  man 
age  our  establishments  much  better  than  you  do 
yours,"  big  Hyrum  responded;  and'  his  face  som- 
bered.  "  Who  are  you  ?  A  panderer  to  the  devil,  a 
thief  with  painted  card-boards,  a  despoiler  of  the  ig 
norant,  and  a  feeder  to  hell — yea,  a  striker  of  women 
and  a  trafficker  in  flesh!  Who  are  you,  to  think  the 
name  of  the  Lord's  anointed?  There  she  is,  your 
chattel.  Take  her,  or  leave  her.  This  train  starts  on 
in  ten  minutes." 

"I'll  take  her  or  kill  her,"  Montoyo  snarled. 
"You  call  me  a  feeder,  but  she  shall  not  be  fed  to 
your  mill,  Adams.  You'll  get  on  that  horse  pronto, 
madam,"  he  added,  stepping  forward  (no  one  could 
question  his  nerve),  "  and  we'll  discuss  our  affairs  in 
private." 

She  cast  about  with  swift  beseeching  look,  as  if  for 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          185 

a  friendly  face  or  sign  of  rescue.  And  that  agonized 
quest  was  enough.  Whether  she  saw  me  or  not,  here 
I  was.  With  a  spring  I  had  burst  in. 

But  somebody  already  had  drawn  fresh  attention. 
Daniel  Adams  was  standing  between  her  and  her  hus 
band. 

"Say,  Mister,  will  yu  fight?"  he  drawled,  breath 
ing  hard,  his  broad  nostrils  quivering. 

A  silence  fell.  Singularly,  the  circle  parted  right 
and  left  in  a  jostle  and  a  scramble. 

Montoyo  surveyed  him. 

"Why?" 

"  For  her,  o'  course." 

The  gambler  smiled — a  slow,  contemptuous  smile 
while  his  gray  eyes  focused  watchfully. 

"  It's  a  case  where  I  have  nothing  to  gain,"  said  he. 
"  And  you've  nothing  to  lose.  I  never  bet  in  the  teeth 
of  a  pat  hand.  Sabe?  Besides,  my  young  Mormon 
cub,  when  did  you  enter  this  game?  Where's  your 
ante  ?  For  the  sport  of  it,  now,  what  do  you  think  of 
putting  up,  to  make  it  interesting?  One  of  your 
mammies  ?  Tut,  tut !  " 

Daniel's  freckled  bovine  face  flushed  muddy  red; 
in  the  midst  of  it  his  faulty  eyes  were  more  pro 
nounced  than  ever — beady,  twinkling,  and  so  at  cross 
purposes  that  they  apparently  did  not  center  upon  the 
gambler  at  all.  But  his  right  hand  had  stiffened  at 
his  side — extended  there  flat  and  tremulous  like  the 
vibrant  tail  of  a  rattlesnake.  He  blurted  harshly: 


186  DESERT  DUST 

"  I  'laow  to  kill  yu  for  that.     Draw,  yu !  " 

We  caught  breath.  Montoyo's  hand  had  darted 
down,  and  up,  with  motion  too  smooth  and  elusive  for 
the  eye,  particularly  when  our  eyes  had  to  be  upon 
both.  His  revolver  poised  half-way  out  of  the  scab 
bard,  held  there  rigidly,  frozen  in  mid  course;  for 
Daniel  had  laughed  loudly  over  leveled  barrel. 

How  he  had  achieved  so  quickly  no  man  of  us 
knew.  Yet  there  it  was — 'his  Colt's,  out,  cocked, 
wicked  and  yearning  and  ready. 

He  whirled  it  with  tempting  carelessness,  butt  first, 
muzzle  first,  his  discolored  teeth  set  in  a  yellow  grin. 
The  breath  of  the  spectators  vented  in  a  sigh. 

"Haow'll  yu  take  it,  Mister?"  he  gibed.  "I 
could  1'arn  an  old  caow  to  beat  yu  on  the  draw.  Aw, 
shucks!  I  'laow  yu'd  better  go  back  to  yore  paste 
boards.  Naow  git ! " 

Montoyo,  his  eyes  steady,  scarcely  changed  expres 
sion.  He  let  his  revolver  slip  down  into  its  scabbard. 
Then  he  smiled. 

"You  have  a  pretty  trick,"  he  commented,  relax 
ing.  "  Some  day  I'd  like  to  test  it  out  again.  Just 
now  I  pass.  Madam,  are  you  coming?" 

"  You  know  I'm  not,"  she  uttered  clearly. 

"  Your  choice  of  company  is  hardly  to  your  credit," 
he  sneered.  "  Or,  I  should  say,  to  your  education. 
Saintliness  does  not  set  well  upon  you,  madam. 
Your  clothes  are  ill-fitting  already.  Of  your  two 
champions " 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          187 

And  here  I  realized  that  I  was  standing  out,  one 
foot  advanced,  my  fists  foolishly  doubled,  my  pres 
ence  a  useless  factor. 

" — I  recommend  the  gentleman  from  New  York  as 
more  to  your  tastes.  But  you  are  going  of  your  own 
free  will.  You  will  always  be  my  wife.  You  can't 
get  away  from  that,  you  devil.  I  shall  expect  you  in 
Benton,  for  I  have  the  hunch  that  your  little  flight 
will  fetch  you  back  pretty  well  tamed,  to  the  place 
where  damaged  goods  are  not  so  heavily  discounted." 
He  ignored  Daniel  and  turned  upon  me.  "  As  for 
you,"  he  said,  "  I  warn  you  you  are  playing  against 
a  marked  deck.  You  will  find  fists  a  poor  hand. 
Ladies  and  gentlemen,  good-morning."  With  that  he 
strode  straight  for  his  horse,  climbed  aboard  (a  trifle 
awkwardly  by  reason  of  his  one  arm  disabled)  and 
galloped,  granting  us  not  another  glance. 

Card  shark  and  desperado  that  he  was,  his  con 
summate  aplomb  nobody  could  deny,  except  Daniel, 
now  capering  and  swaggering  and  twirling  his  re 
volver. 

"  I  showed  him.  I  made  him  take  water.  I  'laow 
I'm  'bout  the  best  man  with  a  six-shooter  in  these 
hyar  parts." 

"  Ketch  up  and  stretch  out,"  Captain  Adams  or 
dered,  disregarding.  "  We've  no  more  time  for  fool- 
ery." 

My  eyes  met  My  Lady's.  She  smiled  a  little  rue 
fully,  and  I  responded,  shamed  by  the  poor  role  I  had 


188  DESERT  DUST 

borne.  With  that  still  jubilating  lout  to  the  fore,  cer 
tainly  I  cut  small  figure. 

This  night  we  made  camp  at  Rawlins'  Springs, 
some  twelve  miles  on.  The  day's  march  had  been,  so 
to  speak,  rather  pensive;  for  while  there  were  the 
rough  jokes  and  the  talking  back  and  forth,  it  seemed 
as  though  the  scene  of  early  morning  lingered  in  our 
vista.  The  words  of  Montoyo  had  scored  deeply,  and 
the  presence  of  our  supernumerary  laid  a  kind  of  in 
cubus,  like  an  omen  of  ill  luck,  upon  us.  Indeed  the 
prophecies  darkly  uttered  showed  the  current  of 
thought. 

"  It's  a  she  Jonah  we  got.  Sure  a  woman  the  likes 
o'  her  hain't  no  place  in  a  freightin'  outfit.  We're  off 
on  the  wrong  fut,"  an  Irishman  declared  to  wagging 
of  heads.  "  Faith,  she's  enough  to  set  the  saints 
above  an'  the  saints  below  both  by  the  ears."  He 
paused  to  light  his  dudeen.  "  There'll  be  a  Donny- 
brook  Fair  in  Utah,  if  belike  we  don't  have  it  along 
the  way." 

"  No  Mormon'll  need  another  wife  if  he  takes  her," 
laughed  somebody  else. 

"  She'll  be  promised  to  Dan'l  'fore  ever  we  cross 
the  Wasatch."  And  they  all  in  the  group  looked  slyly 
at  me.  "  Acts  as  if  she'd  been  sealed  to  him  already, 
he  does." 

This  had  occurred  at  our  nooning  hour,  amidst  the 
dust  and  the  heat,  while  the  animals  drooped  and 
dozed  and  panted  and  in  the  scant  shade  of  the  hooded 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          189 

wagons  we  drank  our  coffee  and  crunched  our  hard 
tack.  Throughout  the  morning  My  Lady  had  ridden 
upon  the  seat  of  Daniel's  wagon,  with  him  sometimes 
trudging  beside,  in  pride  of  new  ownership,  crack 
ing  his  whip,  and  again  planted  sidewise  upon  one 
of  the  wheel  animals,  facing  backward  to  leer  at 
her. 

Why  I  should  now  have  especially  detested  him  I 
would  not  admit  to  myself.  At  any  rate  the  dislike 
dated  before  her  arrival.  That  was  one  sop  to 
conscience  when  I  remembered  that  she  was  a 
wife. 

Friend  Jenks  must  have  read  my  thoughts,  inas 
much  as  during  the  course  of  the  afternoon  he  had 
uttered  abruptly: 

"  These  Mormons  don't  exactly  recognize  Gentile 
marriages.  Did  you  know  that  ?  "  He  flung  me  a 
look  from  beneath  shaggy  brows. 

"  What  ?  "  I  exclaimed.    "  How  so  ?  " 

"  Meanin'  to  say  that  layin*  on  of  hands  by  the 
Lord's  an'inted  is  necessary  to  reel  j'inin'  in  mar 
riage." 

"  But  that's  monstrous !  "  I  stammered. 

"  Dare  say,"  said  he.  "  It's  the  way  white  gospel- 
ers  look  at  Injuns,  ain't  it?  Anyhow,  to  convert  her 
out  of  sin,  as  they'd  call  it,  and  put  her  over  into  the 
company  of  the  saints  wouldn't  be  no  bad  deal,  by 
their  kind  o'  thinkin'.  It's  been  done  before,  I  reckon. 
Jest  thought  I'd  warn  you.  She's  made  her  own  bed 


190  DESERT  DUST 

and  if  it's  a  Mormon  bed  she's  well  quit  of  Montoyo, 
that's  sartin.  Did  you  ever  see  the  beat  of  that  young 
feller  on  the  draw  ?  " 

"  No,"  I  admitted.    "  I  never  did." 

"  And  you  never  will." 

"  He  says  his  name's  Bonnie  Bravo.  Where  did  he 
find  that?  " 

"  Haw  haw."  Friend  Jenks  spat  "  Must  ha' 
heard  it  in  a  play-house  or  got  it  read  to  him  out  a 
book.  Sounds  to  him  like  he  was  some  punkins. 
Anyhow,  if  you've  any  feelin's  in  the  matter  keep 
'em  under  your  hat.  I  don't  know  what  there's  been 
between  you  and  her,  but  the  Mormon  church  is  be 
tween  you  now  and  it's  got  the  deadwood  on  you. 
It's  either  that  for  her,  or  Montoyo.  He  knows ;  he's 
no  fool  and  he'll  take  his  time.  So  you'd  better  stick 
to  mule-whacking  and  sowbelly." 

Still  it  was  only  decent  that  I  should  inquire  after 
her.  No  Daniel  and  no  "  Bonnie  Bravo  "  was  going 
to  shut  me  from  my  duty.  Therefore  this  evening 
after  we  had  formed  corral,  watered  our  animals  at 
the  one  good-water  spring,  staked  them  out  in  the 
bottoms  of  the  ravine  here,  and  eaten  our  supper,  I 
went  with  clean  hands  and  face  and,  I  resolved,  a 
clean  heart,  to  pay  my  respects  at  the  Hyrum  Adams 
fire. 

A  cheery  sight  it  was,  too,  for  one  bred  as  I  had 
been  to  the  company  of  women.  Whereas  during  the 
day  and  somewhat  in  the  evenings  we  Gentiles  and 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          191 

the  Mormon  men  fraternized  without  conflict  of  sect 
save  by  long-winded  arguments,  at  nightfall  the  main 
Mormon  gathering  centered  about  the  Adams  quar 
ters,  where  the  men  and  women  sang  hymns  in  praise 
of  their  pretensions,  and  listened  to  homilies  by  Hy- 
rum  himself. 

They  were  singing  now,  as  I  approached—every 
woman  busy  also  with  her  hands.  The  words  were 
destined  to  be  familiar  to  me,  being  from  their  favor 
ite  lines: 


Cheer,  saints,  cheer !    We're  bound  for  peaceful 

Zion! 
Cheer,  saints,  cheer !    For  that  free  and  happy 

land! 

Cheer,  saints,  cheer !    We'll  Israel's  God  rely  on ; 
We  will  be  led  by  the  power  of  His  hand. 

Away,  far  away  to  the  everlasting  mountains, 
Away,  far  away  to  the  valley  in  the  West ; 

Away,  far  away  to  yonder  gushing  fountains, 
Where  all  the  faithful  in  the  latter  days  are  blest. 


Into  this  domestic  circle  I  civilly  entered  just  as 
they  had  finished  their  hymn.  She  was  seated  beside 
the  sleek-haired  Rachael,  with  Daniel  upon  her  other 
hand.  I  sensed  her  quickly  ready  smile ;  and  with  the 
same  a  surly  stare  from  him,  disclosing  that  by  one 
person  at  least  I  was  not  welcomed. 

"  Anything  special  wanted,  stranger  ?  "  Hyrum  de 
manded. 


I92  DESERT  DUST 

"  No,  sir.  I  was  attracted  by  your  singing,"  I  re 
plied.  "Do  I  intrude?" 

"  Not  at  all,  not  at  all."  He  was  more  hospitable. 
"  Set  if  you  like,  in  the  circle  of  the  Saints.  You'll 
get  no  harm  by  it,  that's  certain." 

So  I  seated  myself  just  behind  Rachael.  A  mo 
ment  of  constraint  seemed  to  fall  upon  the  group.  I 
broke  it  by  my  inquiry,  addressed  to  a  clean  profile. 

"  I  came  also  to  inquire  after  Mrs.  Montoyo,"  I 
carefully  said.  "  You  have  stood  the  journey  well, 
this  far,  madam  ?  " 

Daniel  turned  instantly. 

"  Thar's  no  '  Mrs.  Montoyo '  in  this  camp,  Mister. 
And  I'll  thank  yu  it's  a  name  yu'd  best  leave  alone." 

"How  so,  sir?" 

"  Cause  that's  the  right  of  it.  I  'laow  I've  told 
yu." 

"  I'm  called  Edna  now,  by  my  friends,"  she  vouch 
safed,  coloring.  "  Yes,  thank  you,  I've  enjoyed  the 
day." 

Rachael  spoke  softly,  in  her  gentle  English  accents. 
I  learned  later  that  she  was  an  English  girl,  convert 
to  Mormonism. 

"We  Latter  Day  Saints  know  that  the  marriage 
rites  of  Gentiles  are  not  countenanced  by  the  Lord. 
If  you  would  see  the  light  you  would  understand. 
Sister  Edna  is  being  well  cared  for.  Whatever  we 
have  is  hers." 

"  You  will  take  her  on  with  you  to  Salt  Lake  ?  " 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION          193 

"  That  is  as  Hyrum  says.  He  has  spoken  of  put 
ting  her  on  the  stage  at  the  next  crossing.  He  will 
decide." 

"  I  think  I'd  rather  stay  with  the  train,"  My  Lady 
murmured. 

"  Yu  will,  too,  by  gum,"  Daniel  pronounced.  "  I'll 
talk  with  paw.  Yu're  goin'  to  travel  on  to  Zion  'long 
with  me.  I  'laow  I'm  man  enough  to  look  out  for  ye 
an'  I  got  plenty  room.  The  hull  wagon's  yourn. 
Guess  thar  won't  nobody  have  anything  to  say  ag'in 
that."  His  tone  was  pointed,  unmistakable,  and  I  sat 
fuming  with  it. 

My  Lady  drily  acknowledged. 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Daniel." 

"  Wall,  yu  see  I'm  the  best  man  on  the  draw  in  this 
hyar  train.  I'm  a  bad  one,  I  am.  My  name's  Bonnie 
Bravo.  That  gambler — he  'laowed  to  pop  me  but  I 
could  ha'  killed  him  'fore  his  gun  was  loose.  I  kin 
ride,  wrastle,  drive  a  bull  team  ag'in  ary  man  from 
the  States,  an'  I  got  the  gift  o'  tongues.  Ain't  af eared 
o'  Injuns,  neither.  I'm  elected.  I  foller  the  Lord  an' 
some  day  I'll  be  a  bishop.  I  hain't  been  more'n  mid- 
dim'  interested  in  wimmen,  but  I'm  gittin'  old  enough, 
an'  yu  an'  me'll  be  purty  well  acquainted  by  the  time 
we  reach  Zion.  Thar's  a  long  spell  ahead  of  us,  but 
I  aim  to  look  out  for  yu,  yu  bet." 

His  blatancy  was  arrested  by  the  intonation  of  an 
other  hymn.  They  all  chimed  in,  except  My  Lady 
and  me. 


194  DESERT  DUST 

There  is  a  people  in  the  West,  the  world  calls  Mormon- 

ites  in  jest, 
The  only  people  who  can  say,  we  have  the  truth,  and 

own  its  sway. 

Away  in  Utah's  valleys,  away  in  Utah's  valleys, 
Away  in  Utah's  valleys,  the  chambers  of  the  Lord. 

And  all  ye  saints,  where'er  you  be,  from  bondage  try  to 

be  set  free, 
Escape  unto  fair  Zion's  land,  and  thus  fulfil  the  Lord's 

command, 

And  help  to  build  up  Zion,  and  help  to  build  up  Zion, 
And  help  to  build  up  Zion,  before  the  Lord  appear. 

They  concluded;  sat  with  heads  bowed  while  Hy- 
rum,  standing,  delivered  himself  of  a  long-winded 
blessing,  through  his  nose.  It  was  the  signal  for 
breaking  up.  They  stood.  My  Lady  arose  lithely; 
encumbered  by  her  trailing  skirt  she  pitched  forward 
and  I  caught  her.  Daniel  sprang  in  a  moment,  with 
a  growl. 

"  None  o'  that,  Mister.  I'm  takin'  keer  of  her. 
Hands  off." 

"  Don't  bully  me,  sir,"  I  retorted,  furious.  "  I'm 
only  acting  the  gentleman,  and  you're  acting  the 
boor." 

I  would  willingly  have  fought  him  then  and  there, 
probably  to  my  disaster,  but  Hyrum's  heavy  voice 
cut  in. 

"Who  quarrels  at  my  fire?  Mark  you,  I'll  have 
no  more  of  it.  Stranger,  get  you  where  you  belong. 
Daniel,  get  you  to  bed.  And  you,  woman,  take  your- 


DANIEL  TAKES  POSSESSION         195 

self  off  properly  and  thank  God  that  you  are  among 
his  chosen  and  not  adrift  in  sin." 

"  Good-night,  sir,"  I  answered.  And  I  walked 
easily  away,  a  triumphant  warmth  buoying  me,  for 
ere  releasing  her  strong  young  body  I  had  felt  a  note 
tucked  into  my  hand. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

SOMEONE  FEARS 

A  NOTE  from  a  pretty  woman  always  is  a  potential 
thing,  no  matter  in  what  humor  it  may  have  been 
received.  The  mere  possession  titillates;  and  al 
though  the  contents  may  be  most  exemplary  to  the 
eye,  the  mind  is  apt  to  go  hay-making  between  the 
lines  and  no  offense  intended. 

All  the  fatuousness  that  had  led  me  astray  to  the 
lure  of  her  blue  eyes,  upon  the  train  and  in  hollow 
Benton,  surged  anew  now — perhaps  seasoned  to  pres 
ent  taste  by  my  peppery  defiance  of  Daniel.  A  man 
could  do  no  less  than  bristle  a  little,  under  the  cir 
cumstances;  could  do  no  less  than  challenge  the  tor 
pedoes,  like  Farragut  in  Mobile  Bay.  Whether  the 
game  was  worth  the  candle,  I  was  not  to  be  bullied 
out  of  my  privileges  by  a  clown  swash-buckler  who 
aped  the  characteristics  of  a  pouter  pigeon. 

Mr.  Jenks  was  just  going  to  bed  under  the  wagon. 
With  pretext  of  warming  up  the  coffee  I  kicked  the 
fire  together;  while  squatting  and  sipping  I  managed 
to  unfold  the  note  and  read  it  by  the  flicker,  my  back 
to  the  camp. 

All  that  it  said,  was: 


SOMEONE  FEARS  197 

If  you  are  not  disgusted  with  me  I  will  walk 
a  stretch  with  you  on  the  trail,  during  the  morn 
ing. 

The  engagement  sent  me  to  my  blanket  cogitating. 
When  a  woman  proposes,  one  never  knows  precisely 
the  reason.  Anyway,  I  was  young  enough  so  to 
fancy.  For  a  long  time  I  lay  outside  the  wagons, 
apart  in  the  desert  camp,  gazing  up  at  the  twinkling 
stars,  while  the  wolves  whimpered  around,  and  some 
where  she  slept  beside  the  gentle  Rachael,  and  some 
where  Daniel  snored,  and  here  I  conned  her  face  and 
her  words,  elatedly  finding  them  very  pleasing. 

Salt  Lake  was  far,  the  Big  Tent  farther  by  perspec 
tive  if  not  by  miles.  I  recognized  the  legal  rights 
of  her  husband,  but  no  ruffling  Daniel  should  quash 
the  undeniable  rights  of  Yours  Truly.  I  indeed  felt 
virtuous  and  passing  valorous,  with  that  common 
place  note  in  my  pocket. 

We  all  broke  camp  at  sunrise.  She  rode  for  a  dis 
tance  upon  the  seat  of  Daniel's  wagon — he  lustily 
trudging  alongside.  Then  I  marked  her  walking, 
herself;  she  had  shortened  her  skirt;  and  presently 
lingering  by  the  trail  she  dropped  behind,  leaving  the 
wagon  to  lumber  on,  with  Daniel  helplessly  turning 
head  over  shoulder,  bereft. 

"  Bet  you  the  lady  up  yonder  is  aimin*  to  pay  you  a 
visit,"  quoth  friend  Jenks  the  astute.  "And  Dan'l, 
he  don't  cotton  to  it.  You  ain't  great  shakes  with  a 
gun,  I  reckon?" 


198  DESERT  DUST 

"  I've  never  had  use  for  one,"  said  I.  "  But  her 
whereabouts  in  the  train  is  not  a  matter  of  shooting, 
is  it?" 

"A  feller  quick  on  the  draw,  like  him,  is  alluz 
wantin'  to  practice,  to  keep  his  hand  in.  Anyhow  I'd 
advise  you  to  stay  clear  of  her,  else  watch  him  mighty 
sharp.  He's  thinkin'  of  takin'  a  squaw." 

We  rolled  on,  in  the  dust,  while  the  animals 
coughed  and  the  teamsters  chewed  and  swore.  And 
next,  here  she  was,  idling  until  our  outfit  drew 
abreast. 

"  Mornin',"  Jenks  grunted,  with  a  shortness  that 
bespoke  his  disapproval;  whereupon  he  fell  back  and 
left  us. 

She  smiled  at  me. 

"  Will  you  offer  me  a  ride,  sir  ?  " 

My  response  was  instant:  a  long  "Whoa-oa!"  in 
best  mule-whacker.  The  eight-team  hauled  negli 
gent,  their  mulish  senses  steeped  in  the  drudgery  of 
the  trail;  only  the  wheel  pair  flopped  inquiring  ears. 
When  I  hailed  again,  Jenks  came  puffing. 

"What's  the  matter  hyar?"  He  ran  rapid  eye 
over  wagon  and  animals  and  saw  nothing  amiss. 

"  Mrs.  Montoyo  wishes  to  ride." 

"The  hell,  man!"  He  snatched  whip  and 
launched  it,  up  the  faltering  team.  The  cracker 
popped  an  inch  above  the  off  lead  mule's  cringing 
haunch  twenty  feet  before.  "You  can't  stop  hyar! 
Can't  hold  the  rest  of  the  train.  Joe!  Baldy!  Hep 


SOMEONE  FEARS  199 

with  you !  "  The  team  straightened  out ;  he  restored 
me  the  whip.  His  wrath  subsided,  for  in  less  dud 
geon  he  addressed  her. 

"Want  to  ride,  do  ye?" 

"  I  did,  sir." 

"  Wall,  in  Gawd's  name  ride,  then.  But  we  don't 
stop  for  passengers." 

With  that,  in  another  white  heat  he  had  picked  her 
up  bodily,  swung  her  upon  the  nearest  mule;  so  that 
before  she  knew  (she  scarce  had  time  to  utter  an 
astonished  little  ejaculation  as  she  yielded  to  his 
arms)  there  she  was,  perched,  breathless,  upon  the 
sweaty  hide.  I  awaited  results. 

Jenks  chuckled. 

"  What  you  need  is  an  old  feller,  lady.  These 
young  bucks  ain't  broke  to  the  feed  canvas.  Now. 
when  you  want  to  get  off  you  call  me.  You  don't 
weigh  more'n  a  peck  of  beans." 

With  a  bantering  wink  at  me  he  again  fell  back. 
Once  more  I  had  been  forestalled.  There  should  be 
no  third  time. 

My  Lady  sat  clinging,  at  first  angry-eyed,  but  in  a 
moment  softened  by  my  discomfiture. 

"  Your  partner  is  rather  sudden,"  she  averred. 
"  He  asked  permission  of  neither  me  nor  the 
mule." 

"  He  meant  well.  He  isn't  used  to  women,"  I 
apologized. 

"  More  used  to  mules,  I  judge." 


200  DESERT  DUST 

"  Yes.  If  he  had  asked  the  mule  it  would  have 
objected,  whereas  it's  delighted." 

"  Perhaps  he  knows  there's  not  much  difference  be 
tween  a  woman  and  a  mule,  in  that  respect,"  she 
proffered.  "  You  need  not  apologize  for  him." 

"  I  apologize  for  myself,"  I  blurted.  "  I  see  I'm  a 
little  slow  for  this  country." 

"  You  ? "  She  soberly  surveyed  me  as  I  ploughed 
through  the  dust,  at  her  knees.  "  I  think  you'll  catch 
up.  If  you  don't  object  to  my  company,  yourself, 
occasionally,  maybe  I  can  help  you." 

"  I  certainly  cannot  object  to  your  company  when 
ever  it  is  available,  madam,"  I  assured. 

"  You  do  not  hold  your  experience  in  Benton 
against  me  ?  " 

"  I  got  no  more  than  I  deserved,  in  the  Big  Tent," 
said  I.  "  I  went  in  as  a  fool  and  I  came  out  as  a  fool, 
but  considerably  wiser." 

"  You  reproached  me  for  it,"  she  accused.  "  You 
hated  me.  Do  you  hate  me  still,  I  wonder?  I  tell 
you  I  was  not  to  blame  for  the  loss  of  your  money." 

"The  money  has  mattered  little,  madam,"  I  in 
formed.  "  It  was  only  a  few  dollars,  and  it  turned 
me  to  a  job  more  to  my  liking  and  good  health  than 
fiddling  my  time  away,  back  there.  I  have  you  to 
thank  for  that." 

"  No,  no !  You  are  cruel,  sir.  You  thank  me  for 
the  good  and  you  saddle  me  with  the  bad.  I  accept 
neither.  Both,  as  happened,  were  misplays.  You 


SOMEONE  FEARS  201 

should  not  have  lost  money,  you  should  not  have 
changed  vocation.  You  should  have  won  a  little 
money  and  you  should  have  pursued  health  in  Ben- 
ton."  She  sighed.  "  And  we  all  would  have  been 
reasonably  content.  Now  here  you  and  I  are — and 
what  are  we  going  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"We?"  I  echoed,  annoyingly  haphazard.  "Why 
so?  You're  being  well  cared  for,  I  take  it;  and  I'm 
under  engagement  for  Salt  Lake  myself." 

The  answer  did  sound  rude.  I  was  still  a  cad.  She 
eyed  me,  with  a  certain  whiteness,  a  certain  puzzled 
intentness,  a  certain  fugitive  wistfulness — a  mute  es 
timation  that  made  me  too  conscious  of  her  clear 
appraising  gaze  and  rack  my  brain  for  some  disarm 
ing  remark. 

"  You're  not  responsible  for  me,  you  would  say  ?  " 

"  I'm  at  your  service,"  I  corrected.  The  platitude 
was  the  best  that  I  could  muster  to  my  tongue. 

"  That  is  something,"  she  mused.  "  Once  you  were 
not  that — when  I  proposed  a  partnership.  You  are 
afraid  of  me?  "  she  asked. 

"  Why  should  I  be  ?  "  I  parried.  But  I  was  be 
ginning;  or  continuing.  I  had  that  curious  inward 
quiver,  not  unpleasant,  anticipatory  of  possible 
events. 

"  You  are  a  cautious  Yankee.  You  answer  one 
question  with  another."  She  laughed  lightly.  "  Yes, 
why  should  you  be?  I  cannot  run  away  with  you; 
not  when  Daniel  and  your  Mr.  Jenks  are  watching  us 


202  DESERT  DUST 

so  closely.  And  you  have  no  desire  to  be  run  away 
with.  And  Pedro  must  be  considered.  Altogether, 
you  are  well  protected,  even  if  your  conscience  slips. 
But  tell  me:  Do  you  blame  me  for  running  away 
from  Montoyo  ? " 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  I  heartily  assured. 

"  You  would  have  helped  me,  at  the  last  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  should  have  felt  fully  warranted." 
Again  I  floundered. 

"  Even  to  stowing  me  with  a  bull  train  ?  " 

"  Anywhere,  madam,  for  your  betterment,  to  free 
you  from  that  brute." 

"  Oh !  "  She  clapped  her  hands.  "  But  you  didn't 
have  to.  I  only  embarrassed  you  by  appearing  on 
my  own  account.  You  have  some  spirit,  though. 
You  came  to  the  Adams  circle,  last  night.  You  did 
your  duty.  I  expected  you.  But  you  must  not  do  it 
again." 

"Why  not?" 

"  There  are  objections,  there." 

"From  you?" 

"No." 

"From  Hyrum?" 

"  Not  yet." 

"  From  that  Daniel,  then.  Well,  I  will  come  to 
Captain  Adams'  camp  as  often  as  I  like,  if  with  the 
Captain's  permission.  And  I  shall  come  to  see  you, 
whether  with  his  permission  or  not." 

"  I   don't  know,"   she   faltered.      "  I — you   would 


SOMEONE  FEARS  203 

have  helped  me  once,  you  say?  And  once  you  re 
fused  me.  Would  you  help  me  next  time  ?  " 

"  As  far  as  I  could,"  said  I — another  of  those 
damned  hedging  responses  that  for  the  life  of  me  I 
could  not  manipulate  properly. 

"Oh!"  she  cried.  "Of  course!  The  queen  de 
ceived  you;  now  you  are  wise.  You  are  afraid.  But 
so  am  I.  Horribly  afraid.  I  have  misplayed  again." 
She  laughed  bitterly.  "  I  am  with  Daniel — it  is  to  be 
Daniel  and  I  in  the  Lion's  den.  You  know  they  call 
Brigham  Young  the  Lion  of  the  Lord.  I  doubt  if 
even  Rachael  is  angel  enough."  She  paused. 
"They're  going  to  make  nooning,  aren't  they?  I 
mustn't  stay.  Good-bye." 

I  sprang  to  lift  her,  but  with  gay  shake  of  head  she 
slipped  off  of  herself  and  landed  securely. 

"  I  can  stand  alone.  I  have  to.  Men  are  always 
ready  to  do  what  I  don't  ask  them  to  do,  as  long  as  I 
can  serve  as  a  tool  or  a  toy.  You  will  be  very,  very 
careful.  Good-day,  sir." 

She  flashed  just  the  trace  of  a  smile ;  gathering  her 
skirt  she  ran  on,  undeterred  by  the  teamsters  applaud 
ing  her  spryness. 

"  Swing  out !  "  shouted  Jenks,  from  rear.  "  We're 
noonin'."  The  lead  wagons  had  halted  beside  the 
trail  and  all  the  wagons  following  began  to  imitate. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

I  TAKE  A  LESSON 

FROM  this  hour's  brief  camp,  early  made,  we 
should  have  turned  southward,  to  leave  the  railroad 
line  and  cross  country  for  the  Overland  Stage  trail 
that  skirted  the  southern  edge  of  the  worse  desert 
before  us.  But  Captain  Hyrum  was  of  different 
mind.  With  faith  in  the  Lord  and  bull  confidence  in 
himself  he  had  resolved  to  keep  straight  on  by  the 
teamster  road  which  through  league  after  league  ever 
extended  fed  supplies  to  the  advance  of  the  builders. 

Under  its  adventitious  guidance  we  should  strike 
the  stage  road  at  Bitter  Creek,  eighty  or  one  hundred 
miles ;  thence  trundle,  veering  southwestward,  for  the 
famed  City  of  the  Saints,  near  two  hundred  miles 
farther. 

Therefore  after  nooning  at  a  pool  of  stagnant, 
scummy  water  we  hooked  up  and  plunged  ahead, 
creaking  and  groaning  and  dust  enveloped,  con 
stantly  outstripped  by  the  hurrying  construction 
trains  thundering  over  the  newly  laid  rails,  we  our 
selves  the  tortoise  in  the  race. 

My  Lady  did  not  join  me  again  to-day,  nor  on  the 
morrow.  She  abandoned  me  to  a  sense  of  dissatis- 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  205 

faction  with  myself,  of  foreboding,  and  of  a  void  in 
the  landscape. 

Our  sorely  laden  train  went  swaying  and  pitching 
across  the  gaunt  face  of  a  high,  broad  plateau,  bleak, 
hot,  and  monotonous  in  contour;  underfoot  the  red 
dish  granite  pulverized  by  grinding  tire  and  hoof, 
over  us  the  pale  bluish  fiery  sky  without  a  cloud,  dis 
tant  in  the  south  the  shining  tips  of  a  mountain 
range,  and  distant  below  in  the  west  the  slowly 
spreading  vista  of  a  great,  bared  ocean-bed,  simmer-1 
ing  bizarre  with  reds,  yellows  and  deceptive  whites, 
and  ringed  about  by  battlements  jagged  and  rock 
hewn. 

Into  this  enchanted  realm  we  were  bound ;  by  token 
of  the  smoke  blotches  the  railroad  line  led  thither. 
The  teamsters  viewed  the  unfolding  expanse  phleg* 
matically.  They  called  it  the  Red  Basin.  But  to  me, 
fresh  for  the  sight,  it  beckoned  with  fantastic  issues. 
Even  the  name  breathed  magic.  Wizard  spells  hov 
ered  there;  the  railroad  had  not  broken  them — the 
cars  and  locomotives,  entering,  did  not  disturb  the 
brooding  vastness.  A  man  might  still  ride  errant  into 
those  slumberous  spaces  and  discover  for  himself; 
might  boldly  awaken  the  realm  and  rule  with  a  prin 
cess  by  his  side. 

But  romance  seemed  to  have  no  other  sponsor  in 
this  plodding,  whip-cracking,  complaining  caravan. 
So  I  lacked,  woefully  lacked,  kindred  companionship. 

Free  to  say,  I  did  miss  My  Lady,  perched  upon  the 


206  DESERT  DUST 

stoic  mule  while  like  an  Arab  chief  I  convoyed  her. 
The  steady  miles,  I  admitted,  were  going  to  be  as 
disappointing  as  tepid  water,  when  not  aerated  by  her 
counsel  and  piquant  allusions,  by  her  sprightly  readi 
ness  and  the  essential  elements  of  her  blue  eyes,  her 
facile  lips,  and  that  bright  hair  which  no  dust  could 
dim. 

After  all  she  was  distinctly  feminine — bravely 
feminine;  and  if  she  wished  to  flirt  as  a  relief  from 
the  cock-sure  Daniel  and  the  calm  methods  of  her 
Mormon  guardians,  why,  let  us  beguile  the  way.  I 
should  second  with  eyes  open.  That  was  accepted. 

Moreover,  something  about  her  weighed  upon  me. 
A  consciousness  of  failing  her,  a  woman,  in  emer 
gency,  stung  my  self-respect.  She  had  twitted  me  with 
being  "  afraid  " ;  afraid  of  her,  she  probably  meant. 
That  I  could  pass  warily.  But  she  had  said  that  she, 
too,  was  afraid:  "horribly  afraid,"  and  an  honest 
shudder  had  attended  upon  the  words  as  if  a  real 
danger  hedged.  She  had  an  intuition.  The  settled 
convictions  of  my  Gentile  friends  coincided.  "  With 
Daniel  in  the  Lion's  den  " — that  phrase  repeated  it 
self  persistent.  She  had  uttered  it  in  a  fear  accentu 
ated  by  a  mirthless  laugh.  Could  such  a  left-handed 
wooer  prove  too  much  for  her?  Well,  if  she  was 
afraid  of  Daniel  I  was  not  and  she  should  not  think 
so. 

I  could  see  her  now  and  then,  on  before.  She 
rode  upon  the  wagon  seat  of  her  self-appointed  ex- 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  207 

ecutor.  And  I  might  see  him  and  his  paraded  imperti 
nences. 

Except  for  the  blowing  of  the  animals  and  the 
mechanical  noises  of  the  equipment  the  train  subsided 
into  a  dogged  patience,  while  parched  by  the  dust  and 
the  thin  dry  air  and  mocked  by  the  speeding  construc 
tion  crews  upon  the  iron  rails  it  lurched  westward  at 
two  and  a  half  miles  an  hour,  for  long  hours  out 
faced  by  the  blinding  sun. 

Near  the  western  edge  of  the  plateau  we  made  an 
evening  corral.  After  supper  the  sound  of  revolver 
shots  burst  flatly  from  a  mess  beyond  us,  and  startled. 
Everything  was  possible,  here  in  this  lone  horizon- 
land  where  rough  men,  chafed  by  a  hard  day,  were 
gathered  suddenly  relaxed  and  idle.  But  the  shots 
were  accompanied  by  laughter. 

"  They're  only  tryin'  to  spile  a  can,"  Jenks  reas 
sured.  "  By  golly,  we'll  go  over  and  1'arn  'em  a  les 
son."  He  glanced  at  me.  "  Time  you  loosened  up 
that  weepon  o'  yourn,  anyhow.  Purty  soon  it'll  stick 
fast." 

I  arose  with  him,  glad  of  any  diversion.  The  cir 
cle  had  not  yet  formed  at  Hyrum's  fire. 

"  It  strikes  me  as  a  useless  piece  of  baggage,"  said 
I.  "I  bought  it  in  Benton  but  I  haven't  needed  it. 
I  can  kill  a  rattlesnake  easier  with  my  whip." 

"  Wall,"  he  drawled,  "  down  in  yonder  you're  liable 
to  meet  up  with  a  rattler  too  smart  for  your  whip, 
account  of  his  freckles.  'Twon't  do  you  no  harm  to 


208  DESERT  DUST 

spend  a  few  ca'tridges,  so  you'll  be  ready  for  busi 
ness." 

The  men  were  banging,  by  turn,  at  a  sardine  can 
set  up  on  the  sand  about  twenty  paces  out.  Their 
shadows  stretched  slantwise  before  them,  grotesquely 
lengthened  by  the  last  efforts  of  the  disappearing  sun. 
Some  aimed  carefully  from  under  pulled-down  hat 
brims;  others,  their  brims  flared  back,  fired  quickly, 
the  instant  the  gun  came  to  the  level.  The  heavy 
balls  sent  the  loose  soil  flying  in  thick  jets  made  golden 
by  the  evening  glow.  But  amidst  the  furrows  the  can 
sat  untouched  by  the  plunging  missiles. 

We  were  greeted  with  hearty  banter. 

"  Hyar's  the  champeens !  " 

"  Now  they'll  show  us." 

"  Ain't  never  see  that  pilgrim  unlimber  his  gun  yit, 
but  I  reckon  he's  a  bad  'un." 

"  Jenks,  old  hoss,  cain't  you  Tarn  that  durned  can 
manners?  " 

"  I'll  try  to  oblige  you,  boys,"  friend  Jenks  smiled. 
"  What  you  thinkin'  to  do :  hit  that  can  or  plant  a 
lead  mine  ?  " 

"  Give  him  room.  He's  made  his  brag,"  they  cried. 
"  And  if  he  don't  plug  it  that  pilgrim  sure  will." 

Mr.  Jenks  drew  and  took  his  stand;  banged  with 
small  preparation  and  missed  by  six  inches — a  fact 
that  brought  him  up  wide  awake,  so  to  speak,  badg 
ered  by  derision  renewed.  A  person  needs  must  have 
a  bull  hide,  to  travel  with  a  bull  train,  I  saw. 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  209 

"  Gimme  another,  boys,  and  I'll  hit  it  in  the  nose," 
he  growled  sheepishly ;  but  they  shoved  him  aside. 

"  No,  no.  Pilgrim's  turn.  Fetch  on  yore  shootin'- 
iron,  young  feller.  Thar's  yore  turkey.  Show  us 
why  you're  packin'  all  that  hardware." 

Willy-nilly  I  had  to  demonstrate  my  greenness;  so 
in  all  good  nature  I  drew,  and  stood,  and  cocked,  and 
aimed.  The  Colt's  exploded  with  prodigious  blast 
and  wrench — jerking,  in  fact,  almost  above  head; 
and  where  the  bullet  went  I  did  not  see,  nor,  I 
judged,  did  anybody  else. 

"  He  missed  the  'arth !  "  they  clamored. 

"  No ;  I  reckon  he  hit  Montany  'bout  the  middle. 
That's  whar  he  scored  center !  " 

"Shoot!  Shoot!"  they  begged.  "Go  ahead. 
Mebbe  you'll  kill  an  Injun  unbeknownst.  They's  a 
pack  o'  Sioux  jest  out  o'  sight  behind  them  hills." 

And  I  did  shoot,  vexed;  and  I  struck  the  ground, 
this  time,  some  fifty  yards  beyond  the  can.  Jenks 
stepped  from  amidst  the  riotous  laughter. 

"  Hold  down  on  it,  hold  down,  lad,"  he  urged. 
"  To  hit  him  in  the  heart  aim  at  his  feet.  Here ! 

Like  this "  and  taking  my  revolver  he  threw  it 

forward,  fired,  the  can  plinked  and  somersaulted, 
lashed  into  action  too  late. 

"  By  Gawd,"  he  proclaimed,  "  when  I  move  like  it 
had  a  gun  in  its  fist  I  can  snap  it.  But  when  I  think 
on  it  as  a  can  I  lack  guts." 

The  remark  was  pat.    I  had  seen  several  of  the  men 


210  DESERT  DUST 

snip  the  head  from  a  rattlesnake  with  a  single  off 
hand  shot — yes,  they  all  carried  their  weapons  easily 
and  wontedly.  But  the  target  of  an  immobile  can 
lacked  in  stimulation  to  concord  of  nerve  and  eye. 

Now  I  shot  again,  holding  lower  and  more  firmly, 
out  of  mere  guesswork,  and  landed  appreciably 
closer  although  still  within  the  zone  of  ridicule.  And 
somebody  else  shot,  and  somebody  else,  and  another, 
until  we  all  were  whooping  and  laughing  and  jesting, 
and  the  jets  flew  as  if  from  the  balls  of  a  mitrailleuse, 
and  the  can  rocked  and  gyrated,  spurring  us  to  haste 
as  it  constantly  changed  the  range.  Presently  it  was 
merely  a  twist  of  ragged  tin.  Then  in  the  little  si 
lence,  as  we  paused,  a  voice  spoke  irritatingly. 

"  I  'laow  yu  fellers  ain't  no  great  shucks  at 
throwin'  lead." 

Daniel  stood  by,  with  arms  akimbo,  his  booted  legs 
braggartly  straddled  and  his  freckled  face  primed 
with  an  intolerant  grin  at  our  recent  efforts.  My 
Lady  had  come  over  with  him.  Raw-boned,  angular, 
cloddish  but  as  strong  as  a  mule,  he  towered  over  her 
in  a  maddening  atmosphere  of  proprietorship. 

She  smiled  at  me — at  all  of  us:  at  me,  swiftly;  at 
them,  frankly.  And  I  knew  that  she  was  still  afraid. 

"  Reckon  we  don't  ask  no  advice,  friend,"  they  an 
swered.  Again  a  constraint  enfolded,  fastened  upon 
us  by  an  unbidden  guest.  "  Like  as  not  you  can  do 
better." 

Daniel  laughed  boisterously,  his  mouth  widely  open. 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  211 

"  I  couldn't  do  wuss.  I  seen  yu  poppin'  at  that  can. 
Hadn't  but  one  hole  in  it  till  yu  all  turned  loose  an' 
didn't  give  it  no  chance.  Haw  haw!  I  'laow  for  a 
short  bit  I'd  stand  out  in  front  o'  that  greenie  from 
the  States  an'  let  him  empty  two  guns  at  me." 

"  S'pose  you  do  it,"  friend  Jenks  promptly  chal 
lenged.  "  By  thunder,  I'll  hire  ye  with  the  ten  cents, 
and  give  him  four  bits  if  he  hits  you." 

"  He  wouldn't  draw  on  me,  nohaow,"  scoffed  Dan 
iel.  "  I  daren't  shoot  for  money,  but  I'll  shoot  for 
fun.  Anybody  want  to  shoot  ag'in  me  ?  " 

"  Wasted  powder  enough,"  they  grumbled. 

"  Ever  see  me  shoot?  "  He  was  eager.  "  I'll  show 
ye  somethin'.  I  don't  take  back  seat  for  ary  man. 
Yu  set  me  up  a  can.  That  thar  one  wouldn't  jump  to 
a  bullet." 

In  sullen  obedience  a  can  was  produced. 

"How  fur?" 

"  Fur  as  yu  like." 

It  was  tossed  contemptuously  out ;  and  watching  it, 
to  catch  its  last  roll,  I  heard  Daniel  gleefully  yelp 
"  Out  o'  my  way,  yu-all !  " — half  saw  his  hand  dart 
down  and  up  again,  felt  the  jar  of  a  shot,  witnessed 
the  can  jump  like  a  live  thing;  and  away  it  went,  with 
spasm  after  spasm,  to  explosion  after  explosion,  tor 
tured  by  him  into  fruitless  capers  until  with  the  final 
ball  peace  came  to  it,  and  it  lay  dead,  afar  across  the 
twilight  sand. 

Verily,  by  his  cries  and  the  utter  savagery  and 


212  DESERT  DUST 

malevolence  of  his  bombardment,  one  would  have 
thought  that  he  took  actual  lust  in  fancied  cruelty. 

"  I  'laow  thar's  not  another  man  hyar  kin  do  that," 
he  vaunted. 

There  was  not,  judging  by  the  silence  again  ensu 
ing.  Only — 

"  A  can's  a  different  proposition  from  a  man,  as  I 
said  afore,"  Jenks  coolly  remarked.  "  A  can  don't 
shoot  back." 

"  I  don't  'laow  any  man's  goin'  to,  neither."  Dan 
iel  reloaded  his  smoking  revolver,  bolstered  it  with  a 
flip ;  faced  me  in  turning  away.  "  That's  somethin' 
for  yu  to  1'arn  on,  ag'in  next  time,  young  feller,"  he 
vouchsafed. 

If  he  would  have  eyed  me  down  he  did  not  succeed. 
His  gaze  shifted  and  he  passed  on,  swaggering. 

"  Come  along,  Edna,"  he  bade.  "  We'll  be  goin' 
back." 

A  devil — or  was  it  he  himself? — twitted  me,  incited 
me,  and  in  a  moment,  with  a  gush  of  assertion,  there  I 
was,  saying  to  her,  my  hat  doffed: 

"  I'll  walk  over  with  you." 

"Do,"  she  responded  readily.  "We're  to  have 
more  singing." 

The  men  stared,  they  nudged  one  another,  grinned. 
Daniel  whirled. 

"  I  'laow  yu  ain't  been  invited,  Mister." 

"If  Mrs.  Montoyo  consents,  that's  enough,"  I  in 
formed,  striving  to  keep  steady.  "  I'm  not  walking 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  213 

with  you,  sir;  I  am  walking  with  her.  The  only 
ground  you  control  is  just  in  front  of  your  own 
wagon." 

"  Yu've  been  told  once  thar  ain't  no  '  Mrs.  Mon- 
toyo,' "  he  snarled.  "And  whilst  yu're  1'arnin'  to 
shoot  yu'd  better  be  1'arnin'  manners.  Yu  comin' 
with  me,  Edna  ?  " 

"As  fast  as  I  can,  and  with  Mr.  Beeson  also,  if  he 
chooses,"  said  she.  "  I  have  my  manners  in  mind, 
too." 

"  By  gosh,  I  don't  walk  with  ye,"  he  jawed.  And 
in  a  huff,  like  the  big  boy  that  he  was,  he  flounced 
about,  venge fully  striding  on  as  though  punishing  her 
for  a  misdemeanor. 

She  dropped  the  grinning  group  a  little  curtsy.  A 
demure  sparkle  was  in  her  eyes. 

"  The  entertainment  is  concluded,  gentlemen.  I 
wish  you  good-night." 

Yet  underneath  her  raillery  and  self-possession 
there  lay  an  appeal,  the  stronger  because  subtle  and 
unvoiced.  It  seemed  to  me  every  man  must  appreci 
ate  that  as  a  woman  she  invoked  protection  by  him 
against  an  impending  something,  of  which  she  had 
given  him  a  glimpse. 

So  we  left  them  somewhat  subdued,  gazing  after 
us,  their  rugged  faces  sobered  reflectively. 

"  Shall  we  stroll?  "  she  asked. 

"  With  pleasure,"  I  agreed. 

Daniel  was  angrily  shouldering  for  the  Mormon 


214  DESERT  DUST 

wagons,  his  indignant  figure  black  against  the  western 
glow.  She  laughed  lightly. 

"  You're  not  afraid,  after  all,  I  see." 

"  Not  of  him,  madam." 

"And  of  me?" 

"  I  think  I'm  more  afraid  for  you,"  I  confessed. 
"  That  clown  is  getting  insufferable.  He  sets  out  to 
bully  you.  Damn  him,"  I  flashed,  with  pardonable 
flame,  "  and  he  ruffles  at  me  on  every  occasion.  In 
fact,  he  seems  to  seek  occasion.  Witness  this  even- 
ing." 

"  Witness  this  evening,"  she  murmured.  "  I'm 
afraid,  too.  Yes,"  she  breathed,  confronted  by  a  por 
tent,  "  I'm  afraid.  I  never  have  been  afraid  before. 
I  didn't  fear  Montoyo.  I've  always  been  able  to  take 
care  of  myself.  But  now,  here " 

"  You  have  your  revolver  ?  "  I  suggested. 

"  No,  I  haven't.  It's  gone.  Mormon  women  don't 
carry  revolvers." 

"  They  took  it  from  you  ?  " 

"  It's  disappeared." 

"  But  you're  not  a  Mormon  woman." 

"  Not  yet."  She  caught  quick  breath.  "  God  for 
bid.  And  sometimes  I  fear  God  willing.  For  I  do 
fear.  You  can't  understand.  Those  other  men  do, 
though,  I  think.  Do  you  know,"  she  queried,  with 
sudden  glance,  "  that  Daniel  means  to  marry  me  ?  " 

"He?"  I  gasped.  "How  so?  With  your — con 
sent,  of  course.  But  you're  not  free ;  you  have  a  bus- 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  215 

band."  My  gorge  rose,  regardless  of  fact.  "  You 
scarcely  expect  me  to  congratulate  you,  madam.  Still 
he  may  have  points." 

"  Daniel  ?  "  She  shrugged  her  shoulders.  "  I  can 
not  say.  Pedro  did.  Most  men  have.  Oh ! "  she 
cried,  impulsively  stopping  short.  "  Why  don't  you 
learn  to  shoot  ?  Won't  you  ?  " 

"  I've  about  decided  to,"  I  admitted.  "  That  ap 
pears  to  be  the  saving  accomplishment  of  everybody 
out  here." 

"  Of  everybody  who  stays.  You  must  learn  to 
draw  and  to  shoot,  both.  The  drawing  you  will  have 
to  practice  by  yourself,  but  I  can  teach  you  to 
shoot.  So  can  those  men.  Let  me  have  your  pistol, 
please." 

I  passed  it  to  her.    She  was  all  in  a  flutter. 

"  You  must  grasp  the  handle  firmly ;  cover  it  with 
your  whole  palm,  but  don't  squeeze  it  to  death;  just 
grip  it  evenly — tuck  it  away.  And  keep  your  elbow 
down;  and  crook  your  wrist,  in  a  drop,  until  your 
trigger  knuckle  is  pointing  very  low — at  a  man's  feet 
if  you're  aiming  for  his  heart." 

"At  his  feet,  for  his  heart  ?  "  I  stammered.  The 
words  had  an  ugly  sound. 

"  Certainly.  We  are  speaking  of  shooting  now, 
and  not  at  a  tin  can.  You  have  to  allow  for  the  jump 
of  the  muzzle.  Unless  you  hold  it  down  with  your 
wrist,  you  over  shoot;  and  it's  the  first  shot  that 
counts.  Of  course,  there's  a  feel,  a  knack.  But 


216  DESERT  DUST 

don't  aim  with  your  eyes.  You  won't  have  time. 
Men  file  off  the  front  sight — it  sometimes  catches,  in 
the  draw.  And  it's  useless,  anyway.  They  fire  as 
they  point  with  the  finger,  by  the  feel.  You  see,  they 
know" 

"  Evidently  you  do,  too,  madam,"  I  faltered, 
amazed. 

"  Not  all,"  she  panted.  "  But  I've  heard  the  talk; 
I've  watched  —  I've  seen  many  things,  sir,  from 
Omaha  to  Benton.  Oh,  I  wish  I  could  tell  you  more; 
I  wish  I  could  help  you  right  away.  I  meant,  a  dead- 
shot  with  the  revolver  knows  beforehand,  in  the  draw, 
where  his  bullet  shall  go.  Some  men  are  born  to 
shoot  straight;  some  have  to  practice  a  long,  long 
while.  I  wonder  which  you  are." 

"If  there  is  pressing  need  in  my  case,"  said  I,  "  I 
shall  have  to  rely  upon  my  friends  to  keep  me  from 
being  done  for." 

"You?"  she  uttered,  with  a  touch  of  asperity. 
"  Oh,  yes.  Pish,  sir !  Friends,  I  am  learning,  have 
their  own  hides  to  consider.  And  those  gentlemen  of 
yours  are  Gentiles  with  goods  for  Salt  Lake  Mor 
mons.  Are  they  going  to  throw  all  business  to  the 
winds?" 

"  You  yourself  may  appeal  to  his  father,  and  to  the 
women,  for  protection  if  that  lout  annoys  you,"  I  ven 
tured. 

"To  them?"  she  scoffed.  "To  Hyrum  Adams' 
outfit?  Why,  they're  Mormons  and  good  Mormons, 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  217 

and  why  should  I  not  be  made  over?  I'm  under  their 
teachings ;  I  am  Edna,  already ;  it's  time  Daniel  had  a 
wife — or  two,  for  replenishing  Utah.  Rachael  calls 
me  '  sister,'  and  I  can't  resent  it.  Good  at  heart  as  she 
is,  even  she  is  convinced.  Why,"  and  she  laughed 
mirthlessly,  "  I  may  be  sealed  to  Hyrum  himself,  if 
nothing  worse  is  in  store.  Then  I'll  be  assured  of  a 
seat  with  the  saints." 

"  You  can  depend  upon  me,  then.  I'll  protect  you, 
I'll  fight  for  you,  and  I'll  kill  for  you,"  I  was  on  the 
point  of  roundly  declaring;  but  didn't.  Her  kind,  I 
remembered,  had  spelled  ruin  upon  the  pages  of  men 
more  experienced  than  I.  Therefore  out  of  that  su 
per-caution  born  of  Benton,  I  stupidly  said  nothing. 

She  had  paused,  expectant.     She  resumed. 

"  But  no  matter.  Here  I  am,  and  here  you  are. 
We  were  speaking  of  shooting.  This  is  a  lesson  in 
shooting,  not  in  marrying,  isn't  it?  As  to  the  press 
ing  need,  you  must  decide.  You've  seen  and  heard 
enough  for  that.  I  like  you,  sir;  I  respect  your  spirit 
and  I'm  sorry  I  led  you  into  misadventure.  Now  if 
I  may  lend  you  a  little  something  to  keep  you  from 
being  shot  like  a  dog,  I'll  feel  as  though  I  had  wiped 
out  your  score  against  me.  Take  your  gun."  I  took 
it,  the  butt  warm  from  her  clasp.  "  There  he  is. 
Cover  him ! " 

"  Where  ?  "  I  asked.     "  Who  ?  " 

"  There,  before  you.  Oh,  anybody!  Think  of  his 
heart  and  cover  him.  I  want  to  see  you  hold." 


2i8  DESERT  DUST 

I  aimed,  squinting. 

"  No,  no !  You'll  not  have  time  to  close  an  eye ; 
both  eyes  are  none  too  many.  And  you  are  awk 
ward;  you  are  stiff."  She  readjusted  my  arm  and 
ringers.  "  That's  better.  You  see  that  little  rock  ? 
Hit  it.  Cock  your  weapon,  first.  Hold  firmly,  not 
too  long.  There;  I  think  you're  going  to  hit  it,  but 
hold  low,  low,  with  the  wrist.  Now !  " 

I  fired.  The  sand  obscured  the  rock.  She  clapped 
her  hands,  delighted. 

"  You  would  have  killed  him.  No — he  would  have 
killed  you.  Quick !  Give  it  to  me !  " 

And  snatching  the  revolver  she  cocked,  leveled  and 
fired  instantly.  The  rock  split  into  fragments. 

"  I  would  have  killed  him,"  she  murmured,  gazing 
tense,  seeing  I  knew  not  what.  Wrenching  from  the 
vision  she  handed  back  the  revolver  to  me.  "  I  think 
you're  going  to  do,  sir.  Only,  you  must  learn  to 
draw.  I  can  tell  you  but  I  can't  show  you.  The  men 
will.  You  must  draw  swiftly,  decisively,  without  a 
halt,  and  finger  on  trigger  and  thumb  on  hammer  and 
be  ready  to  shoot  when  the  muzzle  clears  the  scab 
bard.  It's  a  trick." 

"Like  this?"  I  queried,  trying. 

"  Partly.  But  it's  not  a  sword  you're  drawing ;  it's 
a  gun.  You  may  draw  laughing,  if  you  wish  to  dis 
semble  for  a  sudden  drop;  they  do,  when  they  have 
iron  in  their  heart  and  the  bullet  already  on  its  way,  in 
their  mind.  I  mustn't  stay  longer.  Shall  we  go  to 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  219 

the  fire  now  ?  I  am  cold."  She  shivered.  "  Daniel 
is  waiting.  And  when  you've  delivered  me  safe  you'd 
better  leave  me,  please." 

"Why  so?" 

She  smiled,  looking  me  straight  in  the  eyes. 

"  Quien  sabe  ?  To  avoid  a  scene,  perhaps ;  perhaps, 
to  postpone.  I  have  an  idea  that  it  is  better  so. 
You've  baited  Daniel  far  enough  for  to-night." 

We  walked  almost  without  speaking,  to  the  Hyrum 
Adams  fire.  Daniel  lifted  upper  lip  at  me  as  we  en 
tered;  his  eyes  never  wandered  from  my  face.  I 
marked  his  right  hand  quivering  stiffly;  and  I  disre 
garded  him.  For  if  I  had  challenged  him  by  so  much 
as  an  overt  glance  he  would  have  burst  bonds. 

Rachael's  eyes,  the  older  woman's  eyes,  the  eyes  of 
all,  men  and  women,  curious,  admonitory,  hostile  and 
apprehensive,  hot  and  cold  together — these  I  felt  also 
amidst  the  dusk.  I  was  distinctly  unwelcome.  Ac 
cordingly  I  said  a  civil  "  Good-evening  "  to  Hyrum 
(whose  response  out  of  compressed  lips  was  scarce 
more  than  a  grunt)  and  raising  my  hat  to  My  Lady 
turned  my  back  upon  them,  for  my  own  bailiwick. 

The  other  men  were  waiting  en  route. 

"Didn't  kill  ye,  did  he?" 

"  No." 

"  Wall,"  said  one,  "  if  you  can  swing  a  rattler  by 
the  tail,  all  right.  But  watch  his  haid." 

Friend  Jenks  paced  on  with  me  to  our  fire. 

"  We  were  keepin'  cases  on  you,  and  so  was  he. 


220  DESERT  DUST 

He  saw  that  practice — damn,  how  he  did  crane !  She 
was  givin'  you  pointers,  eh  ?  " 

"Yes;  she  wanted  amusement." 

"  It'll  set  Bonnie  Bravo  to  thinkin' — it'll  shorely  set 
him  to  thinkin'/'  Jenks  chuckled,  mouthing  his  pipe. 
"  She's  a  smart  one."  He  comfortably  rocked  to  and 
fro  as  we  sat  by  the  fire.  "  Hell !  Wall,  if  you  got 
to  kill  him  you  got  to  kill  him  and  do  it  proper.  For 
if  you  don't  kill  him  he'll  kill  you;  snuff  you  out  like 
a — wall,  you  saw  that  can  travel." 

"I  don't  want  to  kill  him,"  I  pleaded.  "Why 
should  I?" 

Jenks  sat  silent;  and  sitting  silent  I  foresaw  that 
kill  Daniel  I  must.  I  was  being  sucked  into  it, 
irrevocably  willed  by  him,  by  her,  by  them  all.  If  I 
did  not  kill  him  in  defense  of  myself  I  should  kill  him 
in  defense  of  her.  Yet  why  I  had  to,  I  wondered; 
but  when  I  had  bought  my  ticket  for  Benton  I  had 
started  the  sequence,  to  this  result.  Here  I  was.  As 
she  had  said,  here  I  was,  and  here  she  was.  I  might 
not  kill  for  love — no,  not  that ;  I  was  going  to  kill  for 
hate.  And  while  I  never  had  killed  a  man,  and  in 
my  heart  of  hearts  did  not  wish  to  kill  a  man,  since  I 
had  to  kill  one,  named  Daniel,  even  though  he  was  a 
bully,  a  braggart  and  an  infernal  over-stepper  it  was 
pleasanter  to  think  that  I  should  kill  him  in  hot  blood 
rather  than  in  cold. 

Jenks  spat,  and  yawned. 

"  I  can  Tarn  you  a  few  things ;  all  the  boys'll  help 


I  TAKE  A  LESSON  221 

you  out,"  he  proffered.  "  When  you  git  him  you'll 
have  to  git  him  quick;  for  if  you  don't — adios.  But 
we'll  groom  ye." 

Could  this  really  be  I  ?  Frank  Beeson,  not  a  fort 
night  ago  still  living  at  jog-trot  in  dear  Albany,  New 
York  State  ?  It  was  puzzling  how  detached  and  how 
strong  I  felt. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE  TRAIL  NARROWS 

AGAIN  we  broke  camp.  We  rolled  down  from  the 
plateau  into  that  wizard  basin  lying  all  beautiful  and 
slumberous  and  spell-locked  like  some  land  of  heart's 
desire.  We  replenished  our  water  casks  from  the 
tank  cars,  we  swapped  for  a  little  feed,  we  occa 
sionally  exchanged  greetings  with  contractor  outfits, 
and  with  grading  crews.  In  due  time  we  passed  end 
o*  track,  where  a  bevy  of  sweated  men  were  moiling 
like  mad,  clanging  down  the  rails  upon  the  hasty  ties 
and  ever  calling  for  more,  more.  I  witnessed  little 
General  "  Jack "  Casement  of  Ohio— a  small  man 
with  full  russet  beard  and  imperative  bold  blue  eyes — 
teetering  and  tugging  at  his  whiskers  and  rampantly 
swearing  while  he  drove  the  work  forward.  And 
we  left  end  o'  track,  vainly  reaching  out  after  us, 
until  the  ring  of  the  rails  and  the  staccato  of  the 
rapid  sledges  faded  upon  our  ears. 

Now  we  were  following  the  long  line  of  bare  grade, 
upturned  reddish  by  the  plows  and  scrapers  and  picks 
and  shovels;  sometimes  elevated,  for  contour,  some 
times  merged  with  the  desert  itself.  There  the  navvies 
digged  and  delved,  scarcely  taking  time  to  glance 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  223 

at  us.  And  day  by  day  we  plodded  in  the  inter 
minable  clouds  of  desert  dust  raised  by  the  supply 
wagons. 

Captain  Hyrum  fought  shy  of  their  camps.  The 
laborers  were  mainly  Irish,  trans-shipped  from  steer 
age,  dock,  and  Bowery,  and  imported  from  Western 
mining  centers;  turbulent  in  their  relaxations  and 
plentifully  supplied  with  whiskey:  companies,  they, 
not  at  all  to  the  Mormon  mind.  Consequently  we 
halted  apart  from  them — and  well  so,  for  those  were 
womanless  camps  and  the  daily  stint  bred  strong  ap 
petites. 

There  were  places  where  we  made  half  circuit  out 
from  the  grade  and  abandoned  it  entirely.  In  this 
way  we  escaped  the  dust,  the  rough  talk,  and  the 
temptations;  now  and  again  obtained  a  modicum  of 
forage  in  the  shape  of  coarse  weedy  grasses  at  the 
borders  of  sinks. 

But  it  was  a  cruel  country  on  men  and  beasts.  Our 
teamsters  who  had  been  through  by  the  Overland 
Trail  said  that  the  Bitter  Creek  desert  was  yet  worse: 
drier,  barer,  dustier  and  uglier.  Nevertheless  this  was 
our  daily  program: 

To  rise  after  a  shivery  night,  into  the  crisp  dawn 
which  once  or  twice  glinted  upon  a  film  of  Ice  formed 
in  the  water  buckets ;  to  herd  the  stiffened  animals  and 
place  them  convenient;  to  swallow  our  hot  coffee  and 
our  pork  and  beans,  and  flapjacks  when  the  cooks 
were  in  the  humor ;  to  hook  the  teams  to  the  wagons 


224  DESERT  DUST 

and  break  corral,  and  amidst  cracking  of  lashes  stretch 
out  into  column,  then  to  lurch  and  groan  onward,  at 
snail's  pace,  through  the  constantly  increasing  day  un 
til  soon  we  also  were  wrung  and  parched  by  a  re 
lentless  heat  succeeding  the  frosty  night. 

The  sleeping  beauties  of  the  realm  were  ever 
farther  removed.  In  the  distances  they  awaited,  lur 
ing  with  promise  of  magic-invested  azure  battlements, 
languid  reds  and  yellows  like  tapestry,  and  patches  of 
liquid  blue  and  dazzling  snowy  white,  canopied  by  a 
soft,  luxurious  sky.  But  when  we  arrived,  near  spent, 
the  battlements  were  only  isolated  sandstone  outcrops 
inhabited  by  rattlesnakes,  the  reds  and  yellows  were 
sun-baked  soil  as  hard,  the  liquid  blue  was  poisonous, 
stagnant  sinks,  the  snow  patches  were  soda  and  bitter 
alkali,  the  luxurious  sky  was  the  same  old  white-hot 
dome,  reflecting  the  blazing  sun;  upon  the  fuming 
earth. 

Then  at  sunset  we  made  corral ;  against  theft,  when 
near  the  grade;  against  Indians  and  pillage  when  out 
from  the  grade,  with  the  animals  under  herd  guard. 
There  were  fires,  there  was  singing  at  the  Mormon 
camp,  there  was  the  heavy  sleep  beneath  blanket  and 
buffalo  robe,  through  the  biting  chill  of  a  breezeless 
night,  the  ground  a  welcomed  bed,  the  stars  vigilant 
from  horizon  to  horizon,  the  wolves  stalking  and  bick 
ering  like  avid  ghouls. 

So  we  dulled  to  the  falsity  of  the  desert  and  the 
drudgery  of  the  trail;  and  as  the  grading  camps  be- 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  225 

came  less  frequent  the  men  grew  riper  for  any  diver 
sion.  That  My  Lady  and  Daniel  and  I  were  to  fur 
nish  it  seemed  to  be  generally  accepted.  Here  were 
the  time-old  elements:  two  men,  one  woman — ele 
ments  so  constituted  that  in  other  situation  they  might 
have  brought  comedy  but  upon  such  a  trail  must  and 
should  pronounce  for  tragedy,  at  least  for  true  melo 
drama. 

Besides,  I  was  expected  to  uphold  the  honor  of  our 
Gentile  mess  along  with  my  own  honor.  That  was 
demanded;  ever  offered  in  cajolery  to  encourage  my 
pistol  practice.  I  was,  in  short,  "  elected,"  by  an  ob 
session  equal  to  a  conviction;  and  what  with  her  in 
sistently  obtruded  as  a  bonus  I  never  was  permitted 
to  lose  sight  of  the  ghastly  prize  of  skill  added  to 
merit. 

At  first  the  matter  had  disturbed  and  horrified  me 
mightily,  to  the  extent  that  I  anticipated  evading  the 
issue  while  preparing  against  it.  Surely  this  was  the 
current  of  a  prankish  dream.  And  dreams  I  had — 
frightfully  tumultuous  dreams,  of  red  anger  and  red 
der  blood,  sometimes  my  own  blood,  sometimes  an 
other's;  dreams  from  which  I  awakened  drenched  in 
cold  nightmare  sweat. 

To  be  infused,  even  by  bunkum  and  banter,  with 
the  idea  of  killing,  is  a  sad  overthrow  of  sane  balance. 
I  would  not  have  conceived  the  thing  possible  to  me  a 
month  back.  But  the  monotonous  desert  trail,  the 
close  companying  with  virile,  open  minds,  and  the 


226  DESERT  DUST 

strict  insistence  upon  individual  rights — yes,  and  the 
irritation  of  the  same  faces,  the  same  figures,  the  same 
fare,  the  same  labor,  the  same  scant  recreations,  all 
worked  as  poison,  to  depress  and  fret  and  stimulate 
like  alternant  chills  and  fever. 

Practice  I  did,  if  only  in  friendly  emulation  of  the 
others,  as  a  pass-the-time.  I  improved  a  little  in 
drawing  easily  and  firing  snap-shot.  The  art  was 
good  to  know,  bad  to  depend  upon.  In  the  begin 
nings  it  worried  me  as  a  sleight-of-hand,  until  I  saw 
that  it  was  the  established  code  and  that  Daniel  him 
self  looked  to  no  other. 

In  fact,  he  pricked  me  on,  not  so  much  by  word  as 
by  manner,  which  was  worse.  Since  that  evening 
when,  in  the  approving  parlance  of  my  friends,  I  had 
"  cut  him  out  "  by  walking  with  her  to  the  Adams  fire, 
we  had  exchanged  scarcely  a  word ;  he  ruffled  about  at 
his  end  of  the  train  and  mainly  in  his  own  precincts, 
and  I  held  myself  in  leash  at  mine,  with  self -con 
sciousness  most  annoying  to  me. 

But  his  manner,  his  manner — by  swagger  and  co 
vert  sneer  and  ostentatious  triumph  of  alleged  posses 
sion  emanating  an  unwearied  challenge  to  my  man 
hood.  My  revolver  practice,  I  might  mark,  moved 
him  to  shrugs  and  flings ;  when  he  hulked  by  me  he  did 
so  with  a  stare  and  a  boastful  grin,  but  without  other 
response  to  my  attempted  "Howdy?";  now  and  again 
he  assiduously  cleaned  his  gun,  sitting  out  where  I 
should  see  even  if  I  did  not  straightway  look;  in  this 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  227 

he  was  most  faithful,  with  sundry  flourishes  babying 
me  by  thinking  to  intimidate. 

Withal  he  gave  me  never  excuse  of  ending  him  or 
placating  him,  but  shifted  upon  me  the  burden  of 
choosing  time  and  spot. 

Once,  indeed,  we  near  had  it.  That  was  on  an 
early  morning.  He  was  driving  in  a  yoke  of  oxen 
that  had  strayed,  and  he  stopped  short  in  passing 
where  I  was  busied  with  gathering  our  mules. 

"  Say,  Mister,  I  want  a  word  with  yu,"  he  de 
manded. 

"  Well,  out  with  it,"  I  bade ;  and  my  heart  began  to 
thump.  Possibly  I  paled,  I  know  that  I  blinked,  the 
sun  being  in  my  eyes. 

He  laughed,  and  spat  over  his  shoulder,  from  the 
saddle. 

"  Needn't  be  skeered.  I  ain't  goin'  to  hurt  ye.  I 
'laow  yu  expected  to  make  up  to  that  woman,  didn't 
yu,  'fore  this?" 

"  What  woman  ?  "  I  encouraged ;  but  I  was  won 
dering  if  my  revolver  was  loose. 

"  Edna.  'Cause  if  yu  did,  'tain't  no  use,  Mister. 
Why,"  indulgently,  "  yu  couldn't  marry  her — yu 
couldn't  marry  her  no  more'n  yu  could  kill  me.  Yu're 
a  Gentile,  an'  yu'd  be  bustin'  yore  own  laws.  But 
thar  ain't  no  Gentile  laws  for  the  Lord's  an'inted ;  so 
I  thought  I'd  tell  yu  I'm  liable  to  marry  her  myself. 
Yu've  kep'  away  from  her,consider'ble;  this  is  to  tell 
yu  yu  mought  as  well  keep  keepin'  away." 


228  DESERT  DUST 

"  I  sha'n't  discuss  Mrs.  Montoyo  with  you,  sir,"  I 
broke,  cold,  instead  of  hot,  watching  him  very  nar 
rowly  (as  I  had  been  taught  to  do),  my  hand  nerved 
for  the  inevitable  dart.  "  But  I  am  her  friend — her 
friend,  mind  you;  and  if  she  is  in  danger  of  being  im 
posed  upon  by  you,  I  stand  ready  to  protect  her.  For 
I  want  you  to  know  that  I'm  not  afraid  of  you,  day  or 
night.  Why,  you  low  dog !  "  and  I  choked,  itch 
ing  for  the  crisis. 

He  gawked,  reddening;  his  right  hand  quivered; 
and  to  my  chagrin  he  slowly  laughed,  scanning 
me. 

"  I  seen  yu  practicin'.  Go  ahead.  I  wouldn't  kill 
yu  naow.  Or  if  yu  want  practice  in  'arnest,  start  to 
draw."  He  waited  a  moment,  in  easy  insolence.  I 
did  not  draw.  "  Let  yore  dander  cool.  Thar's  no  use 
yu  tryin'  to  buck  the  Mormons.  I've  warned  ye." 
And  he  passed  on,  cracking  his  lash. 

Suddenly  I  was  aware  that,  as  seemed,  every  eye  in 
the  camp  had  been  fastened  upon  us  two.  My  ringers 
shook  while  with  show  of  nonchalance  I  resumed  ad 
justing  the  halters. 

"  Gosh !  Looked  for  a  minute  like  you  and  him 
was  to  have  it  out  proper,"  Jenks  commented,  matter 
of  fact,  when  I  came  in.  "  Hazin'  you  a  bit,  was  he? 
What'dhesay?" 

"  He  warned  me  to  keep  away  from  Mrs.  Montoyo. 
Went  so  far  as  to  lay  claim  to  her  himself,  the  whelp. 
Boasted  of  it." 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  229 

"  Throwed  it  in  your  face,  did  he  ?  Wall,  you 
goin'  to  let  him  cache  her  away  ?  " 

"Look  here,"  I  said  desperately,  still  a-tremble: 
"  Why  do  you  men  put  that  up  to  me  ?  Why  do  you 
egg  me  on  to  interfere?  She's  no  more  to  me  than 
she  is  to  you.  Damn  it,  I'll  take  care  of  myself  but 
I  don't  see  why  I  should  shoulder  her,  except  that 
she's  a  woman  and  I  won't  see  any  woman  mis 
treated." 

He  pulled  his  whiskers,  and  grinned. 

"  Dunno  jest  how  fur  you're  elected.  Looks  like 
there  was  something  between  you  and  her — though  I 
don't  say  for  shore.  But  she's  your  kind ;  she  may  be 
a  leetle  devil,  but  she's  your  kind — been  eddicated  and 
acts  the  lady.  She  ain't  our  kind.  Thunderation ! 
What'd  we  do  with  her?  She'd  be  better  off  marryin' 
Dan'l.  He'd  give  her  a  home.  If  you  hadn't  been 
with  this  train  I  don't  believe  she'd  have  follered  in. 
That's  the  proposition.  You  got  to  fight  him  any 
way  ;  he's  set  out  to  back  you  down.  It's  your  fracas, 
isn't  it?" 

"  I  know  it,"  I  admitted.  "  He's  been  ugly  toward 
me  from  the  first,  without  reason." 

"  Reckoned  to  amuse  himself.  He's  one  o*  them 
fellers  that  think  to  show  off  by  ridin'  somebody  they 
think  they  can  ride.  The  boys  hate  to  see  you  lay 
down  to  that;  for  you'd  better  call  him  and  eat  lead 
or  else  quit  the  country.  So  you  might  as  well  give 
him  a  full  dose  and  take  the  pot." 


230  DESERT  DUST 

"What  pot ?" 

"  The  woman,  o'  course." 

"  I  tell  you,  Mrs.  Montoyo  has  nothing  to  do  with 
it,  any  more  than  any  woman.  It's  a  matter  between 
him  and  me — he  began  it  by  jeering  at  me  before  she 
appeared.  I  want  her  left  out  of  it." 

"  Oh,  pshaw !  "  Jenks  scoffed.  "  That  can't  be  did. 
He's  fetched  her  into  it.  What  do  you  aim  to  do, 
then?  Dodge  her?  When  you're  dodgin'  her  you're 
dodgin'  him,  or  so  he'll  take  it." 

"  I'll  not  dodge  him,  you  can  bet  on  that,"  I  vowed. 
"  I  don't  seek  her,  nor  him ;  but  I  shall  not  go  out  of 
my  way  to  avoid  either  of  them." 

"  And  when  you  give  him  his  dose,  what'll  you 
do?" 

"If  that  is  forced  upon  me,  nothing.  It  will  be  in 
defense  of  my  rights,  won't  it?  But  I  don't  want  any 
further  trouble  with  him.  I  hope  to  God  I  won't 
have." 

"  Shore,"  Jenks  soothed.  "  You're  not  a  killer. 
All  the  same,  you're  elected;  he  began  it  and  you'll 
have  to  finish  it.  Then  you'll  needs  look  out  for 
yourself  and  her  too,  for  he's  made  her  the  stakes." 

"Why  will  I?" 

"  Got  to.  The  hull  train  thinks  so,  one  way  or 
t'other,  and  you're  white." 

"  She  can  stay  with  the  Mormons,  if  she  wants 
to." 

"  Oh,  yes;  if  she  wants  to.     But  do  you  reckon  she 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  231 

does?  Not  much!  She's  lookin'  to  you — she's 
lookin'  to  you.  She's  a  smart  leetle  piece — knows 
how  to  play  her  cards,  and  she's  got  you  and  Dan'l 
goin'." 

"  But  she's  married.     You  can't  expect " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  he  wagged  again,  interrupting.  "  Shore. 
There's  Montoyo.  I  don't  envy  you  your  job,  but 
damn'  if  you  mightn't  work  harder  and  do  wuss. 
She's  a  clipper,  and  I  never  did  hear  anything 
'specially  bad  of  her,  beyond  cappin'.  Whoa, 
Jinny!" 

I  wrath  fully  cogitated.  Now  I  began  to  hate  her. 
I  was  a  tool  to  her  hand,  once  more,  was  I?  And 
how  had  it  come  about?  She  had  not  directly  be 
sought  me  to  it — not  by  word.  Daniel  had  decreed, 
and  already  our  antagonism  had  been  on.  And  I  had 
defied  him — naturally.  He  should  not  bilk  me  of 
free  movement.  But  the  issue  might,  on  the  face  of 
it,  appear  to  be  she.  As  I  tugged  at  the  harness,  un 
der  breath  I  cursed  the  scurvy  turn  of  events ;  and  in 
seeking  to  place  the  blame  found  amazing  cleverness 
in  her.  Just  the  same,  I  was  not  going  to  kill  him  for 
her  account;  never,  never!  And  I  wished  to  the  deuce 
that  she'd  kept  clear  of  me. 

Jenks  was  speaking. 

"  So  the  fust  chance  you  get  you  might  as  well  walk 
straight  into  him,  call  him  all  the  names  you  can  lay 
tongue  to,  and  when  he  makes  a  move  for  his  gun 
beat  him  to  the  draw  and  come  up  shootin'.  Then 


232  DESERT  DUST 

it'll  be  over  with.  The  longer  it  hangs,  the  less  peace 
you'll  have;  for  you've  got  to  do  it  sooner  or  later. 
It's  you  or  him." 

"  Not  necessarily,"  I  faltered.  "  There  may  be  an 
other  way." 

"  There  ain't,  if  you're  a  he  critter  on  two  legs," 
snapped  Jenks.  "  Not  in  this  country  or  any  other 
white  man's  country;  no,  nor  in  red  man's  country 
neither.  What  you  do  back  in  the  States,  can't  say. 
Trust  in  pray'r,  mebbe." 

Nevertheless  I  determined  to  make  a  last  effort 
even  at  the  risk  of  losing  caste.  In  the  reaction  from 
the  pressure  of  that  recent  encounter  when  I  might 
have  killed,  but  didn't,  I  again  had  a  spell  of  fierce, 
sick  protest  against  the  role  being  foisted  upon  me — 
foisted,  I  could  see,  by  her  machinations  as  well  as  by 
his  animosity.  The  position  was  too  false  to  be 
borne.  There  was  no  joy  in  it,  no  zest,  no  adequate 
reward.  Why,  in  God's  name,  should  I  be  sentenced 
to  have  blood  upon  my  hands  and  soul?  Surely  I 
might  be  permitted  to  stay  clean. 

Therefore  this  evening  immediately  after  corral 
was  formed  I  sought  out  Captain  Adams,  as  master 
of  the  train ;  and  disregarding  the  gazes  that  followed 
me  and  that  received  me  I  spoke  frankly,  here  at  his 
own  wagon,  without  preliminary. 

"  Daniel  and  I  appear  to  be  at  outs,  sir,"  I  said. 
"  Why,  I  do  not  know,  except  that  he  seems  to  have 
had  a  dislike  for  me  from  the  first  day.  If  he'll  let 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  233 

me  alone  I'll  let  him  alone.  I'm  not  one  to  look  for 
trouble." 

His  heavy  face,  with  those  thick  pursed  lips  and 
small  china  blue  eyes,  changed  not  a  jot. 

"  Daniel  will  take  care  of  himself." 

"  That  is  his  privilege,"  I  answered.  "  I  am  not 
here  to  question  his  rights,  Captain,  as  long  as  he 
keeps  within  them ;  but  I  don't  require  of  him  to  take 
care  of  me  also.  If  he  will  hold  to  his  own  trail  I'll 
hold  to  mine,  and  I  assure  you  there'll  be  no  trouble." 

"  Daniel  will  take  care  of  himself,  I  say,"  he  reiter 
ated.  "  Yes,  and  look  after  all  that  belongs  to  him, 
stranger.  There's  no  use  threatening  Daniel.  What 
he  does  he  does  as  servant  of  the  Lord  and  he  fears 
naught." 

"  Neither  do  I,  sir,"  I  retorted  hotly.  "  One  may 
wish  to  avoid  trouble  and  still  not  fear  it.  I  have  not 
come  to  you  with  complaint.  I  merely  wish  to  ex 
plain.  You  are  captain  of  the  train  and  responsible 
for  its  conduct.  I  give  you  notice  that  I  shall  defend 
myself  against  insult  and  annoyance." 

I  turned  on  my  heel — sensed  poised  forms  and  in 
quiring  faces ;  and  his  booming  voice  stayed  me. 

"A  moment,  stranger.  Your  talk  is  big.  What 
have  you  to  do  with  this  woman  Edna  ?  " 

"  With  Mrs.  Montoyo?  What  I  please,  if  it  pleases 
her,  sir.  If  she  claims  your  protection,  very  good. 
Should  she  claim  mine,  she'll  have  it.'*  And  there, 
confound  it,  I  had  spoken.  "  But  with  this,  Daniel 


234  DESERT  DUST 

has  nothing  to  do.  I  believe  that  the  lady  you  men 
tion  is  simply  your  present  guest  and  my  former  ac 
quaintance." 

"  You  err,"  he  thundered,  darkening.  "  You  can 
not  be  expected  to  see  the  light.  But  I  say  to  you, 
keep  away,  keep  away.  I  will  have  no  gallivanting, 
no  cozening  and  smiling  and  prating  and  distracting. 
She  must  be  nothing  to  you.  Never  can  be,  never 
shall  be.  Her  way  is  appointed,  the  instrument 
chosen,  and  as  a  sister  in  Zion  she  shall  know  you  not. 

Now  get  you  gone "  a  favorite  expression  of  his. 

"  Get  you  gone,  meddle  not  hereabouts,  and  I'll  see  to 
it  that  you  are  spared  from  harm." 

Surprising  myself,  and  perhaps  him,  I  gazed  full  at 
him  and  laughed  without  reserve  or  irritation. 

"  Thank  you,  Captain,"  I  heard  myself  saying.  "  I 
am  perfectly  capable  of  self -protection.  And  I  ex 
pect  to  remain  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Montoyo  as  long  as 
she  permits  me.  For  your  bluster  and  Daniel's  I  care 
not  a  sou.  In  fact,  I  consider  you  a  pair  of  damned 
body-snatchers.  Good-evening." 

Then  out  I  stormed,  boiling  within,  reckless  of  op 
position — even  courting  it ;  but  met  none,  Daniel  least 
of  all  (for  he  was  elsewhere),  until  as  I  passed  on 
along  the  lined-up  wagons  I  heard  my  name  uttered 
breathlessly. 

"  Mr.  Beeson." 

It  was  not  My  Lady ;  her  I  had  not  glimpsed.  The 
gentle  English  girl  Rachael  had  intercepted  me.  She 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  235 

stood  between  two  wagons,  whither  she  had  has 
tened. 

"You  will  be  careful?" 

"  How  far,  madam  ?  " 

"  Of  yourself,  and  for  her.  Oh,  be  careful.  You 
can  gain  nothing." 

Her  face  and  tone  entreated  me.  She  was  much  in 
earnest,  the  roses  of  her  round  cheeks  paled,  her  hands 
clasped. 

"  I  shall  only  look  out  for  myself,"  said  I.  "  That 
seems  necessary." 

"  You  should  keep  away  from  our  camp,  and  from 
Daniel.  There  is  nothing  you  can  do.  You — if  you 
could  only  understand."  Her  hands  tightened  upon 
each  other.  "  Won't  you  be  careful?  More  careful? 
For  I  know.  You  cannot  interfere ;  there  is  no  way. 
You  but  run  great  risk.  Sister  Edna  will  be  happy." 

"  Did  she  send  you,  madam  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  N-no ;  yes.  Yes,  she  wishes  it.  Her  place  has 
been  found.  The  Lord  so  wills.  We  all  are  happy 
in  Zion,  under  the  Lord.  Surely  you  would  not  try 
to  interfere,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  interfere  with  the  future  hap 
piness  of  Mrs.  Montoyo,"  I  stiffly  answered.  "  She 
is  not  the  root  of  the  business  between  Daniel  and  me, 
although  he  would  have  it  appear  so.  And  you  your 
self,  a  woman,  are  satisfied  to  have  her  forced  into 
Mormonism  ?  " 

"  She  has  been  living  in  sin,  sir.     The  truth  is  ap- 


236  DESERT  DUST 

pointed  only  among  the  Latter  Day  Saints.  We  have 
the  book  and  the  word — the  Gentile  priests  are  not 
ordained  of  the  Lord  for  laying  on  of  hands.  In 
Zion  Edna  shall  be  purged  and  set  free;  there  she 
shall  be  brought  to  salvation.  Our  bishops,  perhaps 
Brigham  Young  himself,  will  show  her  the  way.  But 
no  woman  in  Zion  is  married  without  consent.  The 
Lord  directs  through  our  prophets.  Oh,  sir,  if  you 
could  only  see !  " 

An  angel  could  not  have  pleaded  more  sweetly.  To 
have  argued  with  her  would  have  been  sacrilege,  for 
I  verily  believed  that  she  was  pure  of  heart. 

"  There  is  nothing  for  me  to  say,  madam,"  I  re 
sponded.  "As  far  as  I  can  do  so  with  self-respect  I 
will  avoid  Daniel.  I  certainly  shall  not  intrude  upon 
your  party,  or  bother  Mrs.  Montoyo.  But  if  Daniel 
brings  trouble  to  me  I  will  hand  it  back  to  him. 
That's  flat.  He  shall  not  flout  me  out  of  face.  It 
rests  with  him  whether  we  travel  on  peacefully  or  not. 
And  I  thank  you  for  your  interest." 

"  I  will  pray  for  you,"  she  said  simply.  "  Good 
bye,  sir." 

She  withdrew,  hastening  again,  sleek  haired,  round 
figured,  modest  in  her  shabby  gown.  I  proceeded  to 
the  outfit  with  a  new  sense  of  disease.  If  she — if 
Mrs.  Montoyo  really  had  yielded,  if  she  were  out  of 
the  game — but  she  never  had  been  in  it;  not  to  me. 
And  still  I  conned  the  matter  over  and  over,  vainly 
convincing  myself  that  the  situation  had  cleared. 


THE  TRAIL  NARROWS  237 

Notwithstanding  all  my  effort,  I  somehow  felt  that  an 
incentive  had  vanished,  leaving  a  gap.  The  affair 
now  had  simmered  down  to  plain  temper  and  tit  for 
tat.  I  championed  nothing,  except  myself. 

Why,  with  her  submissive,  in  a  fracas  I  might  be 
working  hurt  to  her,  beyond  the  harm  to  him.  But 
she  be  hanged,  as  to  that  phase  of  it.  I  had  been  led 
on  so  far  that  there  was  no  solution  save  as  Daniel 
turned  aside.  Heaven  knows  that  the  matter  would 
have  been  sordid  enough  had  it  focused  upon  a  gam 
bler's  wife;  and  here  it  looked  only  prosaic.  Thus 
viewing  it  I  fought  an  odd  disappointment  in  myself, 
coupled  with  a  keener  disappointment  in  her. 

"  You  talked  to  Hyrum,  I  see,"'  Jenks  commented. 

"  I  did." 

"'Bout  Dan'l,  mebbe?" 

"  I  wanted  to  make  plain  that  the  business  is  none 
of  my  seeking.  Hyrum  is  wagon  master." 

"  Didn't  get  any  satisfaction,  I'll  bet." 

"  No.     On  the  contrary." 

"  I  could  have  told  you  you'd  be  wastin'  powder." 

"  At  any  rate,"  I  informed,  "  Mrs.  Montoyo  is  en 
tirely  out  of  the  matter.  She  never  was  in  it  except 
as  she  was  entitled  to  protection,  but  now  she  requires 
no  further  notice." 

"How  so?" 

"  That  is  her  wish.    She  sent  me  word  by  Rachael." 

"She  did?  Wall?"  He  eyed  me.  "  You  swal- 
ler  that?" 


238  DESERT  DUST 

"  Willingly."    And  I  swallowed  my  bitterness  also. 

"  Means  to  marry  him,  does  she  ?  " 

"  Rachael  did  not  say  as  to  that.  Rather,  she  gave 
me  to  understand  that  a  way  would  be  found  to  re 
lease  Mrs.  Montoyo  from  Benton  connections,  but 
that  no  woman  in  Utah  is  obliged  to  marry.  Is  that 
true?" 

"  Um-m."  Jenks  rubbed  his  beard.  "  Wall,  they 
do  say  Brigham  Young  is  ag'in  promisc'yus  swappin', 
and  things  got  to  be  done  straight,  'cordin'  to  the 
faith.  But  an  unjined  female  in  the  church  is  a  pow 
erful  lonely  critter.  Sticks  out  like  a  sore  thumb. 
They  read  the  Bible  at  her  plenty.  Um-m,"  mused 
he.  "  I  don't  put  much  stock  in  that  yarn  you  bring 
me.  There's  a  nigger  in  the  wood-pile,  but  he  ain't 
black.  What  you  goin'  to  do  about  it  ?  " 

"  Nothing.  It's  not  my  concern.  How  if  Daniel 
will  mind  his  affairs  I'll  continue  to  mind  mine." 

"  Wall,  Zion's  a  long  way  off  yet,"  quoth  friend 
Jenks.  "  I  don't  look  to  see  you  or  she  get  there — 
nor  Dan'l  either." 

He  being  stubborn,  I  let  him  have  the  last  word; 
did  not  seek  to  develop  his  views.  But  his  conten 
tious  harping  shadowed  like  an  omen. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

I  DO  THE  DEED 

WE  had  camped  well  beyond  a  last  bunch  of  the 
red-shirted  graders,  so  that  the  thread  of  a  trail 
wended  before,  lonely,  sand-obscured,  leading  appar 
ently  nowhere,  through  this  desert  devoid  of  human 
life.  Line  stakes  of  the  surveyors  denoted  the  grade; 
but  the  surveyors'  work  was  done,  here.  Rush  orders 
from  headquarters  had  sent  them  all  westward  still, 
to  set  their  final  stakes  across  other  deserts  and  across 
the  mountains,  clear  to  Ogden  at  the  north  end  of  the 
Salt  Lake  itself. 

Seemingly  we  had  cut  loose  and  were  more  than 
ever  a  world  to  ourselves.  The  country  had  grown 
sterile  beneath  ordinary,  if  possible;  and  our  thoughts 
and  talk  would  have  been  sterile  also  were  it  not  for 
that  one  recurrent  topic  which  kept  them  quick.  In 
these  journey  ings  men  seize  upon  little  things  and 
magnify  them;  discuss  and  rediscuss  a  phase  until 
launched  maybe  as  an  empty  joke  it  returns  freighted 
with  tragedy. 

However,  now  that  once  My  Lady  had  eliminated 
herself  from  my  field  I  did  not  see  but  that  Daniel  and 
I  might  taper  off  into  at  least  an  armed  neutrality. 
If  he  continued  to  nag  me,  it  would  be  wholly  of  his 
own  free  will.  He  had  no  grievance. 


24o  DESERT  DUST 

Then  in  case  that  I  did  kill  him — if  kill  him  I  must 
(and  that  eventuality  hung  over  me  like  the  sword  of 
Damocles)  I  should  be  not  ashamed  to  tell  even  my 
mother.  In  this  I  took  what  small  comfort  I  might. 

I  had  not  spoken  at  length  with  Mrs.  Montoyo  for 
several  days.  We  had  exchanged  merely  civil  greet 
ings.  To-day  I  did  not  see  her  during  the  march; 
did  not  attempt  to  see  her — did  not  so  much  as  curi 
ously  glance  her  way,  being  content  to  let  well  enough 
alone,  although  aware  that  my  care  might  be  misinter 
preted  as  a  token  of  fear.  But  as  to  proving  the  case 
against  me,  Daniel  was  at  liberty  to  experiment  with 
the  status  in  quo. 

Toward  evening  we  climbed  a  second  wide,  flat 
divide.  We  were  leaving  the  Red  Basin,  they  said, 
and  about  to  cross  into  the  Bitter  Creek  Plains,  which, 
according  to  the  talk,  were  "  a  damned  sight  wuss ! " 
Somewhere  in  the  Bitter  Creek  Plains  our  course  met 
the  course  of  the  Overland  Stage  road,  trending  up 
from  the  south  for  the  passage  of  the  Green  River  at 
the  farther  edge  of  the  Plains. 

I  had  only  faint  hope  that  Mrs.  Montoyo  would  be 
delivered  over  to  the  stage  there.  It  scarcely  would 
be  her  wish.  We  were  destined  to  travel  on  to  Salt 
Lake  City  together — she,  Daniel  and  I. 

If  the  Red  Basin  had  been  bad  and  if  the  Bitter 
Creek  Plains  were  to  be  worse,  assuredly  this  plateau 
was  limbo:  a  gray,  bleak,  wind-swept  elevation  fairly 
level  and  extending,  in  elevation  perceptible  mainly  by 


I  DO  THE  DEED  241 

the  vista,  as  far  as  eye  might  see,  northward  and 
southward,  separating  basin  from  basin — one  Hell,  as 
Jenks  declared,  from  the  other. 

Nevertheless  there  was  a  wild  grandeur  in  the  site, 
flooded  all  with  crimson  as  the  sun  sank  in  the  clear 
western  sky  beyond  the  Plains  themselves,  so  that  our 
plateau  was  still  bathed  in  ruddy  color  when  the  Red 
Basin  upon  the  one  hand  had  deepened  to  purple  and 
the  white  blotches  of  soda  and  alkali  down  in  the 
Plains  upon  the  other  hand  gleamed  evilly  in  a  tenu 
ous  gloaming. 

We  had  corralled  adjacent  to  another  tainted  pond, 
of  which  the  animals  refused  to  drink  but  which  fur 
nished  a  little  rank  forage  for  them  and  an  oasis  for  a 
half  dozen  ducks.  A  pretty  picture  these  made,  too, 
as  they  lightly  sat  the  open  water,  burnished  to  brass 
by  the  sunset  so  that  the  surface  shimmered  irides 
cent,  its  ripples  from  the  floating  bodies  flowing  mol 
ten  in  all  directions. 

After  supper  I  took  the  notion  to  go  over  there,  in 
the  twilight,  on  idle  exploration.  Water  of  any  kind 
had  an  appeal;  a  solitary  pond  always  has;  the  ducks 
brought  thoughts  of  home.  Many  a  teal  and  widgeon 
and  canvasback  had  fallen  to  my  double-barreled 
Manton,  back  on  the  Atlantic  coast — very  long  ago, 
before  I  had  got  entangled  in  this  confounded  web  of 
misadventure  and  homicidal  tendencies. 

To  the  pond  I  went,  mood  subdued.  It  set  slightly 
in  a  cup ;  and  when  I  had  emerged  from  a  little  swale 


242  DESERT  DUST 

or  depression  that  I  had  followed,  attracted  by  the 
laughter  of  children  playing  at  the  marge,  whom 
should  I  see,  approaching  on  line  diagonal,  but  Mrs. 
Montoyo — her  very  hair  and  form — coming  in  like 
wise,  perhaps  with  errand  similar  to  mine:  simple  in 
clination. 

And  that  (again  perhaps)  was  a  mutual  surprise, 
indeed  awkward  to  me,  for  we  both  were  in  plain 
sight  from  the  camp.  Certainly  I  could  not  turn  off, 
nor  turn  back.  Not  now.  It  was  make  or  break. 
Hesitate  I  did,  with  involuntary  action  of  muscles;  I 
thought  that  she  momentarily  hesitated;  then  I  drove 
on,  defiant,  and  so  did  she.  The  fates  were  resolved 
that  there  should  be  no  dilly-dallying  by  the  principals 
chosen  for  this  drama  that  they  had  staged. 

Our  obstinate  paths  met  at  the  base  of  a  small  point 
white  with  alkali,  running  shortly  into  the  sedges. 
Had  we  timed  by  agreement  beforehand  we  could  not 
have  acted  with  more  precision.  So  here  we  halted, 
in  narrow  quarters,  either  willing  but  unable  to  yield 
to  the  other. 

She  smiled.     I  thought  that  she  looked  thinner. 

"An  unexpected  pleasure,  Mr.  Beeson.  At  least, 
for  me.  It  has  been  some  days." 

"I  believe  it  has,"  I  granted.  "Shall  I  pass 
on?" 

"  You  might  have  turned  aside." 

"  And  so,"  I  reminded,  "  might  you." 

"  But  I  didn't  care  to." 


I  DO  THE  DEED  243 

"  Neither  did  I,  madam.     The  pond  is  free  to  all." 

I  was  conscious  that  a  hush  seemed  to  have  gripped 
the  whole  camp,  so  that  even  the  animals  had  ceased 
bawling.  The  children  near  us  stared,  eyes  and 
mouths  open. 

"  You  have  kept  away  from  me  purposely  ?  "  she 
asked.  "  I  do  not  blame  your  discretion." 

"  I  am  not  courting  trouble.  And  as  long  as  you 
are  contented  yonder " 

"  I  contented  ?  "  She  drew  up,  paling.  "  Why  do 
you  say  that,  when  you  must  know."  She  laughed 
weakly.  "  I  am  still  for  the  Lion's  den." 

"  You  have  become  more  reconciled — I've  been  re 
quested  not  to  interfere." 

"You?  Without  doubt.  By  Daniel,  by  Captain 
Adams,  likely  by  others.  More  than  requested,  I 
fancy.  And  you  do  perfectly  right  to  avoid  trouble 
if  possible.  In  fact,  you  can  leave  me  now  and  con 
tinue  your  walk,  sir,  with  no  reproaches.  Believe  me, 
I  shall  not  drag  you  farther  into  my  affairs." 

"  Daniel  and  Captain  Adams  have  no  weight  with 
me,  madam,"  I  stammered.  "  But  when  you  yourself 
requested " 

"  That  was  merely  for  the  time  being.     I  asked  you 

• 

to  leave  me  at  the  fire  because  I  felt  sure  that  Daniel 
would  kill  you." 

"  But  yesterday  evening — I  refer  to  yesterday,"  I 
corrected.  "  You  sent  me  word,  following  my  talk 
with  Hyrum." 


244  DESERT  DUST 

"  I  did  not." 

"NotbyRachael?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  I  so  understood.  I  thought  that  she  intimated  as 
much.  She  said  that  you  were  to  be  happy;  were  al 
ready  content.  And  that  I  would  only  be  making- 
you  trouble  if  I  continued  our  acquaintance." 

"  Oh !  Rachael."  She  smiled  with  sudden  soft 
ness.  "  Rachael  cannot  understand,  either.  I'm  sure 
she  intended  well,  poor  soul.  Were  they  all  like 

Rachael But  I  had  no  knowledge  of  her  talk 

with  you.  Anyway,  please  leave  me  if  you  feel  dis 
posed.  Whether  I  marry  Daniel  or  not  should  be  no 
concern  of  yours.  I  shall  have  to  find  my  own  trail 
out.  Look!  There  go  the  ducks.  I  came  down  to 
watch  them.  Now  neither  of  us  has  any  excuse  for 
staying.  Good " 

The  hush  had  tightened  into  a  strange  pent  stillness 
like  the  poise  of  earth  and  sky  and  beast  and  bird  just 
before  the  breaking  of  a  great  and  lowering  storm. 
The  quick  clatter  of  the  ducks'  wings  somehow 
alarmed  me — the  staring  of  the  children,  their  eyes 
directed  past  us,  sharpened  my  senses  for  a  new 
focus.  And  glancing,  I  witnessed  Daniel  nearing — 
striding  rapidly,  straight  for  the  point,  a  figure  por 
tentous  in  the  fading  glow,  bringing  the  storm  with 
him. 

She  saw,  too.  Her  eyes  widened,  startled,  survey 
ing  not  him,  but  me. 


I  DO  THE  DEED  245 

"  Please  go.     At  once !     I'll  keep  him." 

"  It  is  too  late  now,"  I  asserted,  in  voice  not  mine. 
"  I  am  here  first  and  I'll  go  when  I  get  ready." 

"  You  mean  to  face  him  ?  " 

"  I  mean  to  hear  what  he  has  to  say,  and  learn  what 
he  intends  to  do.  I  don't  see  any  other  way — unless 
you  really  wish  me  to  go  ?  " 

"  No,  no !  "  cried  My  Lady.  "  I  don't  want  you  to 
be  harmed;  but  oh,  how  I  have  suffered."  All  her 
countenance  was  suffused — with  anger,  with  shame, 
and  even  with  hope.  She  trembled,  gazing  at  me,  and 
fluctuant. 

"  So  have  I,  madam,"  said  I,  grimly. 

"  I  think,"  she  remarked  in  quiet  tone,  "  that  in  a 
show-down  you  will  best  him.  I'm  sure  of  it;  yes,  I 
know  it.  You  will  play  the  man.  You  act  cool. 
Good!  Watch  him  very  close.  He'll  give  you  little 
grace,  this  time.  But  remember  this:  I'll  never, 
never,  never  marry  him.  Rather  than  be  bound  to 
him  I'll  deal  with  him  myself." 

"  It  won't  be  necessary,  madam,"  said  I — a  catch 
in  my  throat;  for  while  I  was  all  iciness  and  clammi 
ness,  my  hands  cold  and  my  tongue  dry,  I  felt  that  I 
was  going  to  kill  him  at  last.  Something  told  me ;  the 
sheer  horror  of  it  struck  through;  the  inevitable 
loomed  grisly  and  near  indeed. 

A  panoramic  lifetime  crowds  the  brain  of  a 
drowning  man;  that  same  crowded  my  brain  during 
the  few  moments  which  swung  in  to  us  Daniel,  scowl- 


246  DESERT  DUST 

ing,  masterful,  his  raw  bulk  and  his  long  shambling 
stride  never  before  so  insolent. 

From  New  York  and  home  and  peace  I  traveled 
clear  here  to  desert,  outlawry  and  blood — and  thence 
on  through  a  second  life  as  a  marked  man;  but  while 
I  knew  very  well  where  I  should  shoot  him  (right 
through  the  heart),  I  turned  over  and  over  the  one 
doubtful  pass:  where  would  he  shoot  me?  Shoot  me 
he  would — chest,  shoulder,  arm,  head;  I  could  not  es 
cape,  did  not  hope  to  escape.  Yet  no  matter  where 
his  ball  ploughed  (and  I  poignantly  felt  it  enter  and 
sear  me)  my  final  bullet  would  end  the  match.  Also, 
I  argued  my  rights  in  the  business;  argued  them  be 
fore  my  father  and  mother,  before  the  camp,  before 
the  world. 

These  thoughts  which  precede  a  certain  duel  to  the 
death  are  not  inspiring  thoughts;  since  then  I  have 
learned  that  other  men,  even  practiced  gun-men,  have 
had  the  same  trepidation  to  the  instant  of  pulling 
weapon. 

Daniel  charged  in  for  us.  I  did  not  touch  revolver 
butt;  he  did  not.  My  Lady  lifted  chin,  to  receive 
him.  My  eyes,  fastened  upon  him,  noted  her,  and 
noted,  beyond  us,  the  spying  visages  of  the  camp  folk, 
all  turned  our  way,  transfixed  and  agog. 

He  barked  first  at  her. 

"  Go  whar  yu  belong,  yu  Jezebel !  Then  I'll  tend 

to  this "  The  rabid  epithet  leveled  at  me  I 

shall  not  repeat. 


I  DO  THE  DEED  247 

She  straightened  whitely. 

"  Be  careful  what  you  say,  Daniel.  No  man  on 
this  earth  can  speak  to  me  like  that." 

All  his  face  flushed  livid  with  a  sneer,  merging  to 
gether  yellow  freckles  and  tanned  skin. 

"  Can't,  can't  he  ?  I  kin  an'  I  do.  Why  yu — yu — 
yu  reckon  yu  kin  shame  me  'fore  that  hull  train?  Yu 
sneak  out  this-away,  meetin'  this  spindle-shank,  no- 
'count  States  greenie  who  hain't  sense  enough  to 
swing  a  bull  whip  an'  ain't  man  enough  to  draw  a 
gun?  I've  told  yu  an'  I'm  done  tellin'  yu.  Now  yu 
git.  I've  stood  yore  fast  an'  loose  plenty.  I  mean 
business.  Git!  Whar  yu'll  be  safe.  I'll  not  hold 
off  much  longer." 

"You  threaten  me?" 

Her  blue  eyes  were  blazing  above  a  spot  of  color  in 
either  cheek — with  a  growl  he  took  a  step,  so  that  she 
shrank  from  his  clutching  hand,  its  scarred,  burly  fin 
gers  outcurved.  And  the  time,  perhaps  the  very  mo 
ment  had  arrived.  I  must,  I  must. 

"  No  more  of  that,  you  brute,"  I  uttered,  while  my 
pounding  heart  flooded  me  with  a  cold,  tingling 
stream.  "  If  you  have  anything  to  say,  say  it  to  me." 

He  whirled. 

"  Yu !  Why,  yu  leetle  piece  o*  nothin* — yu  shut 
up ! "  By  sudden  reach  he  gripped  her  arm ;  to  her 
sharp,  short  scream  he  thrust  her  about. 

"Git!  I'm  boss  hyar."  And  at  me:  "What  yu 
goin'  to  do?  She's  promised  to  me.  I'm  takin'  keer 


248  DESERT  DUST 

of  her;  she's  rode  on  my  wagon;  an'  naow  yu  think  to 
toll  her  off  ?  Yu  meet  her  ag'in  right  under  my  nose 
arter  I've  warned  yu?  Git,  yoreself,  or  I'll  stomp  on 
yu  like  on  a  louse." 

Absolutely,  hot  tears  of  mortification,  of  bitter 
injury,  showed  in  his  glaring  eyes.  He  was  but  a  big 
boy,  after  all. 

"  Our  meeting  here  was  entirely  by  accident,"  I  an 
swered.  "  Mrs.  Montoyo  had  no  expectation  of  see 
ing  me,  nor  I  of  seeing  her.  You're  making  a  fool  of 
yourself." 

He  burst,  red,  quivering,  insensate. 

"  Yu're  a  liar !  Yu're  a  sneakin',  thievin'  liar,  like 
all  Gentiles.  Yu're  both  o'  yu  liars.  What's  she  ?  " 
And  he  spoke  it,  raving  with  insult.  "  But  I'll  tame 
her.  She'll  be  snatched  from  yu  an'  yore  kind.  We'll 
settle  naow.  Yu're  a  liar,  I  say.  Yu  gonna  draw  on 
me?  Draw,  yu  Gentile  dog;  for  if  I  lay  hands  on  yu 
once " 

"  Look  out ! "  she  gasped  tensely.  But  she  had 
spoken  late.  That  cold  blood  which  had  kept  me  in  a 
tremor  and  a  wonderment,  awaiting  his  pistol  muzzle, 
exploded  into  a  seethe  of  heat  almost  blinding  me.  I 
forgot  instructions,  I  disregarded  every  movement 
preliminary  to  the  onset,  I  remembered  only  the  crimi 
nations  and  recriminations  culminating  here  at  last. 
Bullets  were  too  slow  and  easy.  I  did  not  see  his  re 
volver,  I  saw  but  the  hulk  of  him  and  the  intolerable 
sneer  of  him,  and  that  his  flesh  was  ready  to  my  fin- 


I  DO  THE  DEED  249 

gers.  And  quicker  than  his  hand  I  was  upon  him, 
into  him,  climbing  him,  clinging  to  him,  arms  binding 
him,  legs  twining  around  his,  each  ounce  of  me  greedy 
to  crush  him  down  and  master  him. 

The  shock  drove  him  backward.  Again  My  Lady 
screamed  shortly;  the  children  screamed.  He  proved 
very  strong.  Swelling  and  tugging  and  cursing  he 
broke  one  grip,  but  I  was  fast  to  him,  now  with  guard 
against  his  holstered  gun.  We  swayed  and  staggered, 
grappling  hither  and  thither.  I  had  his  arms  pinioned 
once  more,  to  bend  him.  He  spat  into  my  face;  and 
shifting,  set  his  teeth  into  my  shoulder  so  that  they 
champed  like  the  teeth  of  a  horse,  through  shirt  and 
hide  to  the  flesh.  I  raised  him;  his  boots  hammered 
at  my  shins,  his  knee  struck  me  in  the  stomach  and  for 
an  instant  I  sickened.  Now  I  tripped  him;  we  top 
pled  together,  came  to  the  ground  with  a  thump. 
Here  we  churned,  while  he  flung  me  and  still  I  stuck. 
The  acrid  dust  of  the  alkali  enveloped  us.  Again  he 
spat,  fetid — I  sprawled  upon  him,  smothering  his 
flailing  arms;  gave  him  all  my  weight  and  strength; 
smelled  the  sweat  of  him,  snarled  into  his  snarling 
face,  close  beneath  mine. 

Once  he  partially  freed  himself  and  buffeted  me  in 
the  mouth  with  his  fist,  but  I  caught  him — while 
struggling,  tossed  and  upheaved,  dimly  saw  that  as 
by  a  miracle  we  were  surrounded  by  a  ring  of  people, 
men  and  women,  their  countenances  pale,  alarmed, 
intent.  Voices  sounded  in  a  dull  roar. 


250  DESERT  DUST 

Presently  I  had  him  crucified:  his  one  outstretched 
arm  under  my  knees,  his  other  arm  tethered  by  my 
two  hands,  my  body  across  his  chest,  while  his  legs 
threshed  vainly.  I  looked  down  into  his  bulging 
crooked  eyes,  glaring  back  presumably  into  my  eyes, 
and  might  draw  breath. 

"'Nuf?     Cry  "Nuf/"  I  bade. 

"  'Nuf!     Say  '  'Nuf/  "  echoed  the  crowd. 

He  strained  again,  convulsive;  and  relaxed. 

"  'Nuf!"  he  panted  through  bared  teeth.  "  Lemme 
up,  Mister." 

"This  settles  it?" 

"  I  said  '  'Nuf/  "  he  growled. 

With  quick  movement  I  sprang  clear  of  him,  to  my 
feet.  He  lay  for  a  moment,  baleful,  and  slowly 
scrambled  up.  On  a  sudden,  as  he  faced  me,  his  hand 
shot  downward — I  heard  the  surge  and  shout  of  men 
and  women,  to  the  stunning  report  of  his  revolver 
ducked  aside,  felt  my  left  arm  jerk  and  sting — felt 
my  own  gun  explode  in  my  hand  (and  how  it  came 
there  I  did  not  know) — beheld  him  spin  around  and 
collapse;  an  astonishing  sight.  . 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  TRAIL  FORKS 

So  there  I  stood,  amidst  silence,  gaping  foolishly, 
breathing  hard,  my  revolver  smoking  in  my  fingers 
and  my  enemy  in  a  shockingly  prone  posture  at  my 
feet,  gradually  reddening  the  white  of  the  torn  soil. 
He  was  upon  his  face,  his  revolver  hand  outflung. 
He  was  harmless.  The  moment  had  arrived  and 
passed.  I  was  standing  here  alive,  I  had  killed  him. 

Then  I  heard  myself  babbling. 

"  Have  I  killed  him  ?  I  didn't  want  to.  I  tell  you, 
I  didn't  want  to." 

Figures  rushed  in  between.  Hands  grasped  me, 
impelled  me  away,  through  a  haze ;  voices  spoke  in  my 
ear  while  I  feebly  resisted,  a  warm  salty  taste  in  my 
throat. 

"I  killed  him.  I  didn't  want  to  kill  him.  He 
made  me  do  it.  He  shot  first." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  they  said,  soothing  gruffly.  "  Shore  he 
did;  shore  you  didn't.  It's  all  right.  Come  along, 
come  along." 

Then 

"  Pick  him  up.  He's  bad  hurt,  himself.  See  that 
blood?  No,  'tain't  his  arm,  is  it?  He's  bleedin'  in 
ternal.  Whar's  the  hole?  Wait!  He's  busted 
something." 


252  DESERT  DUST 

They  would  have  carried  me. 

"  No,"  I  cried,  while  their  bearded  faces  swam. 
"  He  said  '  'Nuf  ' — he  shot  me  afterward.  Not  bad, 
is  it?  I  can  walk." 

"  Not  bad.  Creased  you  in  the  arm,  if  that's  all. 
What  you  spittin'  blood  for  ?  " 

As  they  hustled  me  onward  I  wiped  my  swollen 
lips;  the  back  of  my  hand  seemed  to  be  covered  with 
thin  blood. 

"  Where  he  struck  me,  once,"  I  wheezed. 

"  Yes,  mebbe  so.  But  come1  along,  come  along. 
We'll  tend  to  you." 

The  world  had  grown  curiously  darkened,  so  that 
we  moved  as  through  an  obscuring  veil ;  and  I  dumbly 
wondered  whether  this  was  night  (had  it  been  morn 
ing  or  evening  when  I  started  for  the  pond?)  or 
whether  I  was  dying  myself.  I  peered  and  again 
made  out  the  sober,  stern  faces  hedging  me,  but  they 
gave  me  no  answer  to  my  mutely  anxious  query. 
Across  a  great  distance  we  stumbled  by  the  wagons 
(the  same  wagons  of  a  time  agone),  and  halted  at  a 
fire. 

"  Set  down.  Fetch  a  blanket,  somebody.  Whar's 
the  water?  Set  down  till  we  look  you  over." 

I  let  them  sit  me  down. 

"  Wash  your  mouth  out.'* 

That  was  done,  pinkish ;  and  a  second  time,  clearer. 

"You're  all  right."  Jenks  apparently  was  minis 
tering  to  me.  "  Swaller  this." 


THE  TRAIL  FORKS  253 

The  odor  of  whiskey  fumed  into  my  nostrils.  I 
obediently  swallowed,  and  gasped  and  choked.  Jenks 
wiped  my  face  with  a  sopping  cloth.  Hands  were 
rummaging  at  my  left  arm;  a  bandage  being  wound 
about. 

"  Nothin'  much,"  was  the  report.  "  Creased  him, 
is  all.  Lucky  he  dodged.  It  was  comin*  straight  for 
his  heart."  • 

"  He's  all  right,"  Jenks  again  asserted. 

Under  the  bidding  of  the  liquor  the  faintness  from 
the  exertion  and  reaction  was  leaving  me.  The  slight 
hemorrhage  from  the  strain  to  my  weak  lungs  had 
ceased.  I  would  live,  I  would  live.  But  he — Daniel? 

"Did  I  kill  him?"  I  besought.  "Not  that!  I 
didn't  aim — I  don't  know  how  I  shot — but  I  had  to. 
Didn't  I?" 

"  You  did.  He'll  not  bother  you  ag'in.  She's 
yourn." 

That  hurt. 

"  But  it  wasn't  about  her,  it  wasn't  over  Mrs.  Mon- 
toyo.  He  bullied  me — dared  me.  We  were  man  to 
man,  boys.  He  made  me  fight  him." 

"  Yes,  shore,"  they  agreed — and  they  were  not  be 
lieving.  They  still  linked  me  with  a  woman,  whereas 
she  had  figured  only  as  a  transient  occasion. 

Then  she  herself,  My  Lady,  appeared,  running  in 
breathless  and  appealing. 

"  Is  Mr.  Beeson  hurt?  Badly?  Where  is  he?  Let 
me  help." 


254  DESERT  DUST 

She  knelt  beside  me,  her  hand  grasped  mine,  she 
gazed  wide-eyed  and  imploring. 

"  No,  he's  all  right,  ma'am." 

"  I'm  all  right,  I  assure  you,"  I  mumbled  thickly, 
and  helpless  as  a  babe  to  the  clinging  of  her  cold  fin 
gers. 

"  How's  the  other  man  ?  "  they  abruptly  asked. 

"  I  don't  know.  He  was  carried  away.  But  I 
think  he's  dead.  I  hope  so — oh,  I  hope  so.  The 
coward,  the  beast !  " 

"There,  there,"  they  quieted.  "That's  all  over 
with.  What  he  got  is  his  own  business  now.  He 
hankered  for  it  and  was  bound  to  have  it.  You'd 
best  stay  right  hyar  a  spell.  It's  the  place  for  you  at 
present." 

They  grouped  apart,  on  the  edge  of  the  flickering 
fire  circle.  The  dusk  had  heightened  apace  (for 
nightfall  this  really  was),  the  glow  and  flicker  barely 
touched  their  blackly  outlined  forms,  the  murmur  of 
their  voices  sounded  ominous.  In  the  circle  we  two 
sat,  her  hand  upon  mine,  thrilling  me  comfortably  yet 
abashing  me.  She  surveyed  me  unwinkingly  and 
grave — a  triumph  shining  from  her  eyes  albeit  there 
were  seamy  shadows  etched  into  her  white  face.  It 
was  as  though  she  were  welcoming  me  through  the 
outposts  of  hell. 

"  You  killed  him.  I  knew  you  would — I  knew 
you'd  have  to." 

"I  knew  it,  too,"  I  miserably  faltered.     "But  I 


THE  TRAIL  FORKS  255 

didn't  want  to — I  shot  without  thinking.  I  might 
have  waited." 

"  Waited !  How  could  you  wait  ?  'Twas  either 
you  or  he." 

"  Then  I  wish  it  had  been  I,"  I  attempted. 

"  What  nonsense,"  she  flashed.  "  We  all  know 
you  did  your  best  to  avoid  it.  But  tell  me:  Do  you 
think  I  dragged  you  into  it?  Do  you  hate  me  for 
it?" 

"  No.  It  happened  when  you  were  there.  That's 
all.  I'm  sorry;  only  sorry.  What's  to  be  done 
next?" 

"  That  will  be  decided,  of  course,"  she  said.  "  You 
will  be  protected,  if  necessary.  You  acted  in  self- 
defense.  They  all  will  swear  to  that  and  back  you 
up." 

"  But  you  ?  "  I  asked,  arousing  from  this  unmanly 
despair  which  played  me  for  a  weakling.  "  You  must 
be  protected  also.  You  can't  go  to  that  other  camp, 
can  you  ?  " 

She  laughed  and  withdrew  her  hand;  laughed 
hardly,  even  scornfully. 

"I?  Above  all  things,  don't  concern  yourself 
about  me,  please.  I  shall  take  care  of  myself.  He 
is  out  of  the  way.  You  have  freed  me  of  that  much, 
Mr.  Beeson,  whether  intentionally  or  not.  And  you 
shall  be  free,  yourself,  to  act  as  your  friends  advise. 
You  must  leave  me  out  of  your  plans  altogether. 
Yes,  I  know;  you  killed  him.  Why  not?  But  he 


256  DESERT  DUST 

wasn't  a  man ;  he  was  a  wild  animal."  And  you'll  find 
there  are  matters  more  serious  than  killing  even  a 
man,  in  this  country." 

"You!  You!"  I  insisted.  " You  shall  be  looked 
out  for.  We  are  partners  in  this.  He  used  your 
name;  he  made  that  an  excuse.  We  shall  have 
to  make  some  new  arrangements  for  you — put 
you  on  the  stage  as  soon  as  we  can.  And  mean 
while " 

"  There  is  no  partnership,  and  I  shall  require  no 
looking  after,  sir,"  she  interrupted.  "If  you  are 
sorry  that  you  killed  him,  I  am  not;  but  you  are  en 
tirely  free." 

The  group  at  the  edge  of  the  fire  circle  dissolved. 
Jenks  came  and  seated  himself  upon  his  hams,  beside 
us. 

"  Wall,  how  you  f eelin'  now  ?  "  he  questioned  of 
me. 

"  I'm  myself  again,"  said  I. 

"  Your  arm  won't  trouble  you.  Jest  a  flesh  wound. 
There's  nothin'  better  than  axle  grease.  And  you, 
ma'am  ?  " 

"  Perfectly  well,  thank  you." 

"  You're  the  coolest  of  the  lot,  and  no  mistake,"  he 
praised  admiringly.  "  Wall,  there'll  be  no  more  fra 
cas  to-night.  Anyhow,  the  boys'll  be  on  guard  ag'in 
it;  they're  out  now.  You  two  can  eat  and  rest  a  bit, 
whilst  gettin'  good  and  ready;  and  if  you  set  out  'fore 
moon-up  you  can  easy  get  cl'ar,  with  what  help  we 


THE  TRAIL  FORKS  257 

give  you.  We'll  furnish  mounts,  grub,  anything  you 
need.  I'll  make  shift  without  Frank." 

"  Mounts !  "  I  blurted,  with  a  start  that  waked  my 
arm  to  throbbing.  "  '  Set  out,'  you  say  ?  Why  ? 
And  where  ?  " 

"  Anywhar.  The  stage  road  south'ard  is  your  best 
bet.  You  didn't  think  to  stay,  did  you?  Not  after 
that — after  you'd  plugged  a  Mormon,  the  son  of  the 
old  man,  besides!  We  reckoned  you  two  had  it  ar 
ranged,  by  this  time." 

"  No !  Never !  "  I  protested.  "  You're  crazy,  man. 
I've  never  dreamed  of  any  such  thing;  nor  Mrs.  Mon- 
toyo,  either.  You  mean  that  I — we — should  run 
away?  I'll  not  leave  the  train  and  neither  shall  she, 
until  the  proper  time.  Or  do  I  understand  that  you 
disown  us;  turn  your  backs  upon  us;  deliver  us 
over?" 

"  Hold  on,"  Jenks  bade.  "  You're  barkin'  up  the 
wrong  tree.  'Tain't  a  question  of  disownin'  you. 
Hell,  we'd  fight  for  you  and  proud  to  do  it,  for  you're 
white.  But  I  tell  you,  you've  killed  one  o'  that  party 
ahead,  you've  killed  the  wagon  boss's  son;  and  Hy- 
rum,  he's  consider'ble  of  a  man  himself.  He  stands 
well  up,  in  the  church.  But  lettin'  that  alone,  he's 
captain  of  this  train,  he's  got  a  dozen  and  more  men 
back  of  him;  and  when  he  comes  in  the  mornin'  de- 
mandin'  of  you  for  trial  by  his  Mormons,  what  can 
we  do?  Might  fight  him  off;  yes.  Not  forever, 
though.  He's  nearest  to  the  water,  sech  as  it  is,  and 


258  DESERT  DUST 

our  casks  are  half  empty,  critters  dry.  We  sha'n't 
surrender  you;  if  we  break  with  him  we  break  our 
selves  and  likely  lose  our  scalps  into  the  bargain. 
Why,  we  hadn't  any  idee  but  that  you  and  her  were 
all  primed  to  light  out,  with  our  help.  For  if  you 
stay  you  won't  be  safe  anywhere  betwixt  here  and 
Salt  Lake;  and  over  in  Utah  they'll  vigilant  you, 
shore  as  kingdom.  As  for  you,  ma'am,"  he  bluntly 
addressed,  "  we'd  protect  you  to  the  best  of  ability, 
o'  course;  but  you  can  see  for  yourself  that  Hyrum 
won't  feel  none  too  kindly  toward  you,  and  that  if 
you'll  pull  out  along  with  Beeson  as  soon  as  con 
venient  you'll  avoid  a  heap  of  unpleasantness.  We'll 
take  the  chance  on  sneakin'  you  both  away,  and  facin' 
the  old  man." 

"Mr.  Beeson  should  go,"  she  said.  "But  I 
shall  return  to  the  Adams  camp.  I  am  not  afraid, 
sir." 

"  Tut,  tut ! "  he  rapped.  "  I  know  you're  not 
afraid ;  nevertheless  we  won't  let  you  do  it." 

"  They  wouldn't  lay  hands  on  me." 

"  Um-m,"  he  mused.  "  Mebbe  not.  No,  reckon 
they  wouldn't.  I'll  say  that  much.  But  by  thunder 
they'd  make  you  wish  they  did.  They'd  claim  you 
trapped  Dan'l.  You'd  suffer  for  that,  and  in  place 
of  this  boy,  and  a-plenty.  Better  foller  your  new 
man,  lady,  and  let  him  stow  you  in  safety.  Better  go 
back  to  Benton." 

"  Never  to  Benton,"  she  declared.     "  And  he's  not 


THE  TRAIL  FORKS  259 

my  'new  man/  I  apologize  to  him  for  that,  from 
you,  sir." 

"If  you  stay,  I  stay,  then,"  said  I.  "  But  I  think 
we'd  best  go.  It's  the  only  way."  And  it  was.  We 
were  twain  in  menace  to  the  outfit  and  to  each  other 
but  inseparable.  We  were  yoked.  The  fact  appalled. 
It  gripped  me  coldly.  I  seemed  to  have  bargained 
for  her  with  word  and  fist  and  bullet,  and  won  her; 
now  I  should  appear  to  carry  her  off  as  my  booty:  a 
wife  and  a  gambler's  wife.  Yet  such  must  be. 

"  You  shall  go  without  me." 

"  I  shall  not." 

With  a  little  sob  she  buried  her  face  in  her  hands. 

"If  you  don't  hate  me  now  you  soon  will,"  she 
uttered.  "The  cards  don't  fall  right — they  don't, 
they  don't.  They've  been  against  me  from  the  first. 
I'm  always  forcing  the  play." 

Whereupon  I  knew  that  go  together  we  should,  or 
I  was  no  man. 

"  Pshaw,  pshaw,"  Jenks  soothed.  "  Matters  ain't 
so  bad.  We'll  fix  ye  out  and  cover  your  trail. 
Moon'll  be  up  in  a  couple  o*  hours.  I'd  advise  you 
to  take  an  hour's  start  of  it,  so  as  to  get  away  easier. 
If  you  travel  straight  south'ard  you'll  strike  the  stage 
road  sometime  in  the  mornin'.  When  you  reach  a 
station  you'll  have  ch'ice  either  way." 

"I  have  money,"  she  said ;  and  sat  erect. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

VOICES  IN  THE  VOID 

THE  directions  had  been  plain.  With  the  North 
Star  and  the  moon  as  our  guides  we  scarcely  could 
fail  to  strike  the  stage  road  where  it  bore  off  from 
the  mountains  northward  into  the  desert. 

For  the  first  half  mile  we  rode  without  a  word 
from  either  of  us  to  violate  the  truce  that  swathed  us 
like  the  night.  What  her  thoughts  were  I  might  not 
know,  but  they  sat  heavy  upon  her,  closing  her  throat 
with  the  torture  of  vain  self-reproach.  That  much  I 
sensed.  But  I  could  not  reassure  her;  could  not  vol 
unteer  to  her  that  I  welcomed  her  company,  that  she 
was  blameless,  that  I  had  only  defended  my  honor, 
that  affairs  would  have  reduced  to  pistol  work  with 
out  impulse  from  her — that,  in  short,  the  responsi 
bility  had  been  wholly  Daniel's.  My  own  thoughts 
were  so  grievous  as  to  crush  me  with  aching  woe  that 
forebade  civil  utterance. 

This,  then,  was  I:  somebody  who  had  just  killed 
a  man,  had  broken  from  the  open  trail  and  was  rid 
ing,  he  knew  not  where,  through  darkness  worse  than 
night,  himself  an  outlaw  with  an  outlawed  woman — 
at  the  best  a  chance  woman,  an  adventuring  woman, 


VOICES  IN  THE  VOID  261 

and  as  everybody  could  know,  a  claimed  woman, 
product  of  dance  hall  and  gaming  resort,  wife  of  a 
half-breed  gambler,  and  now  spoil  of  fist  and  revol 
ver. 

But  that  which  burned  me  almost  to  madness,  like 
hot  lava  underneath  the  deadening  crust,  was  the 
thought  that  I  had  done  a  deed  and  a  defensible  deed, 
and  was  fleeing  from  it  the  same  as  a  criminal.  Such 
a  contingency  never  had  occurred  to  me  or  I  might 
have  taken  a  different  course,  still  with  decency;  al 
though  what  course  I  could  not  figure. 

We  rode,  our  mules  picking  their  way,  occasionally 
stumbling  on  rocks  and  shrubs.  At  last  she  spoke  in 
low,  even  tones. 

"  What  do  you  expect  to  do  with  me,  please  ?  " 

"We  shall  have  to  do  whatever  is  best  for  your 
self,"  I  managed  to  answer.  "  That  will  be  deter 
mined  when  we  reach  the  stage  line,  I  suppose." 

"Thank  you.  Once  at  the  stage  line  and  I  shall 
contrive.  You  must  have  no  thought  of  me.  I  un 
derstand  very  well  that  we  should  not  travel  far  in 
company — and  you  may  not  wish  to  go  in  my  direc 
tion.  You  have  plans  of  your  own  ?  " 

"  None  of  any  great  moment.  Everything  has 
failed  me,  to  date.  There  is  only  the  one  place  left: 
New  York  State,  where  I  came  from.  I  probably  can 
work  my  way  back — at  least,  until  I  can  recoup  by 
telegraph  message  and  the  mails." 

"You  have  one  more  place  than  I,"  she  replied. 


262  DESERT  DUST 

She  hesitated.  "  Will  you  let  me  lend  you  some 
money  ?  " 

"  I've  been  paid  my  wages  due,"  said  I.  "  But,"  I 
added,  "  you  have  a  place,  you  have  a  home:  Benton." 

"  Oh,  Benton ! "  She  laughed  under  breath. 
"  Never  Benton.  I  shall  make  shift  without  Ben- 
ton." 

"You  will  tell  me,  though?"  I  urged.  "I  must 
have  your  address,  to  know  that  you  reach  safety." 

"  You  are  strictly  business.  I  believe  that  I  ac 
cused  you  before  of  being  a  Yankee."  And  I  read 
sarcasm  in  her  words. 

Her  voice  had  a  quality  of  definite  estimation 
which  nettled,  humbled,  and  isolated  me,  as  if  I  lacked 
in  some  essential  to  a  standard  set. 

"  So  you  are  going  home,  are  you  ?  "  she  resumed. 
"  With  the  clothes  on  your  back,  or  will  you  stop  at 
Benton  for  your  trunk  ?  " 

"  With  the  clothes  on  my  back,"  I  asserted  bitterly. 
"  I've  no  desire  to  see  B.enton.  The  trunk  can  be 
shipped  to  me." 

She  said  on,  in  her  cool  impersonal  tone. 

"  That  is  the  easiest  way.  You  will  live  warm  and 
comfortably.  You  will  need  to  wear  no  belt  weapon. 
The  police  will  protect  you.  If  a  man  injures  you, 
you  can  summon  him  at  law  and  Wash  your  hands  of 
him.  Instead  of  staking  on  your  luck  among  new 
people,  you  can  enter  into  business  among  your 
friends  and  win  from  them.  You  can  marry  the  girl 


VOICES  IN  THE  VOID  263 

next  door— or  even  take  the  chance  of  the  one  across 
the  street,  her  parentage  being  comme  il  faut.  You 
can  tell  stories  of  your  trip  into  the  Far  West;  your 
children  will  love  to  hear  of  the  rough  mule-whacker 
trail — yes,  you  will  have  great  tales  but  you  will  not 
mention  that  you  killed  a  man  who  tried  to  kill  you 
and  then  rode  for  a  night  with  a  strange  woman  alone 
at  your  stirrup.  Perhaps  you  will  venture  to  revisit 
these  parts  by  steam  train,  and  from  the  windows  of 
your  coach  point  out  the  places  where  you  suffered 
those  hardships  and  adventures  from  which  you  es 
caped  by  leaving  them  altogether.  Your  course  is  the 
safe  course.  By  all  means  take  it,  Mr.  Beeson,  and 
have  your  trunk  follow  you." 

"  That  I  shall  do,  madam,"  I  retorted.  "  The  West 
and  I  have  not  agreed ;  and,  I  fear,  never  shall." 

"By  honest  confession,  it  has  bested  you;  and  in 
short  order." 

"  In  short  order,  since  you  put  it  that  way.  Only 
a  fool  doesn't  know  when  to  quit." 

"  The  greatest  fool  is  the  one  who  fools  himself, 
in  the  quitting  as  in  other  matters.  But  you  will  have 
no  regrets — except  about  Daniel,  possibly." 

"  None  whatever,  save  the  regret  that  I  ever  tried 
this  country.  I  wish  to  God  I  had  never  seen  it — I 
did  not  conceive  that  I  should  have  to  take  a  human 
life — should  be  forced  to  that — become  like  an  out 
law  in  the  night,  riding  for  refuge "  And  I 

choked  passionately. 


264  DESERT  DUST 

"  You  deserve  much  sympathy,"  she  remarked,  in 
that  even  tone. 

I  lapsed  into  a  turbulence  of  voiceless  rage  at  my 
self,  at  her,  at  Daniel's  treachery,  at  all  the  train,  at 
Benton,  and  again  at  this  damning  predicament 
wherein  I  had  landed.  When  I  was  bound  to  wrest 
free  after  having  done  my  utmost,  she  appeared  to 
be  twitting  me  because  I  would  not  submit  to  farther 
use  by  her.  I  certainly  had  the  right  to  extricate  my 
self  in  the  only  way  left. 

So  I  conned  over  and  over,  and  my  heart  gnawed, 
and  the  acid  of  vexation  boiled  in  my  throat,  and 
despite  the  axle  grease  my  arm  nagged ;  while  we  rode 
unspeaking,  like  some  guilty  pair  through  purgatory. 

My  lip  had  subsided;  the  pistol  wound  was  super 
ficial.  Under  different  circumstances  the  way  would 
have  been  full  of  beauty.  The  high  desert  stretched 
vastly,  far,  far,  far  before,  behind,  on  either  side,  the 
parched  gauntness  of  its  daytime  aspect  assuaged 
and  evanescent.  For  the  moon,  now  risen,  although 
on  the  wane,  shed  a  light  sufficient,  whitening  the 
rocks  and  the  scattered  low  shrubs,  painting  the  land 
with  sharp  black  shadows,  and  enclosing  us  about 
with  the  mystery  of  great  softly  illumined  spaces 
into  which  silent  forms  vanished  as  if  tempting  us 
aside.  Of  these — rabbits,  wolves,  animals  only  to  be 
guessed — there  were  many,  like  potential  phantoms 
quickened  by  the  touch  of  the  moonbeams.  Mule- 
back,  we  twain  towered,  the  sole  intruders  visible  be- 


VOICES  IN  THE  VOID  265 

tween  the  two  elysians  of  glorified  earth  and  beatific 
sky. 

The  course  was  southward.  After  a  time  it  seemed 
to  me  that  we  were  descending  from  the  plateau; 
craunching  gradually  down  a  flank  until,  in  a  mile  or 
so,  we  were  again  upon  the  level,  cutting  through  an 
other  basin  formed  by  the  dried  bed  of  an  ancient 
lake  whose  waters  had  evaporated  into  deposits  of  salt 
and  soda. 

At  first  the  mules  had  plodded  with  ears  pricked 
forward,  and  with  sundry  snorts  and  stares  as  if  they 
were  seeing  portents  in  the  moonshine.  Eventually 
their  imaginings  dulled,  so  that  they  now  moved  care 
less  of  where  or  why,  their  heads  drooped,  their 
minds  devoted  to  achieving  what  rest  they  might  in 
the  merely  mechanical  setting  of  hoof  before  hoof. 

I  could  not  but  be  aware  of  my  companion.  Her 
hair  glinted  paly,  for  she  rode  bareheaded ;  her  gown, 
tightened  under  her  as  she  sat  astride,  revealed  the 
lines  of  her  boyish  limbs.  She  was  a  woman,  in  any 
guise ;  and  I  being  a  man,  protect  her  I  should,  as  far 
as  necessary.  I  found  myself  wishing  that  we  could 
upturn  something  pleasant  to  talk  about;  it  was  un 
gracious,  even  wicked,  to  ride  thus  side  by  side 
through  peace  and  beauty,  with  lips  closed  and  war 
in  the  heart,  and  final  parting  as  the  main  desire. 

But  her  firm  pose  and  face  steadily  to  the  fore  in 
vited  with  no  sign;  and  after  covertly  stealing  a 
glance  or  two  at  her  clear  unresponsive  profile  I  still 


266  DESERT  DUST 

could  manage  no  theme  that  would  loosen  my  tongue. 
Thereby  let  her  think  me  a  dolt.  Thank  Heaven, 
after  another  twenty-four  hours  at  most  it  might  not 
matter  what  she  thought. 

The  drooning  round  of  my  own  thoughts  revolved 
over  and  over,  and  the  scuffing  gait  o-f  the  mules  upon 
way  interminable  began  to  numb  me.  Lassitude 
seemed  to  be  enfolding  us  both;  I  observed  that  she 
rode  laxly,  with  hand  upon  the  horn  and  a  weary 
yielding  to  motion.  Words  might  have  stirred  us, 
but  no  words  came.  Presently  I  caught  myself  doz 
ing  in  the  saddle,  aroused  only  by  the  twitching  of  my 
wounded  arm.  Then  again  I  dozed,  and  kept  dozing, 
fairly  dead  for  sleep,  until  speak  she  did,  her  voice 
drifting  as  from  afar  but  fetching  me  awake  and 
blinking. 

"Hadn't  we  better  stop?"  she  repeated. 

That  was  a  curious  sensation.  When  I  stared 
about,  uncomprehending,  my  view  was  shut  off  by  a 
whiteness  veiling  the  moon  above  and  the  earth  be 
low  except  immediately  underneath  my  mule's  hoofs. 
She  herself  was  a  specter;  the  weeds  that  we  brushed 
were  spectral ;  every  sound  that  we  made  was  muffled, 
and  in  the  intangible,  opaquely  lucent  shroud  which 
had  enveloped  us  like  the  spirit  of  a  sea  there  was  no 
life  nor  movement. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  I  propounded. 

"  The  fog.     I  don't  know  where  we  are." 

"Oh!    I  hadn't  noticed." 


VOICES  IN  THE  VOID  267 

"  No,"  she  said  calmly.    "  You've  been  asleep." 

"Haven't  you?" 

"  Not  lately.  But  I  don't  think  there's  any  use  in 
riding  on.  We've  lost  our  bearings." 

She  was  ahead;  evidently  had  taken  the  lead  while 
I  slept.  That  realization  straightened  me,  shamed,  in 
my  saddle.  The  fog,  fleecy,  not  so  wet  as  impene 
trable — when  had  it  engulfed  us? 

"How  long  have  we  been  in  it?"  I  asked,  thor 
oughly  vexed. 

"  An  hour,  maybe.  We  rode  right  into  it.  I 
thought  we  might  leave  it,  but  we  don't.  It's  as  thick 
as  ever.  We  ought  to  stop." 

"  I  suppose  we  ought,"  said  I. 

And  at  the  moment  we  entered  into  a  sudden  clear 
ing  amidst  the  fog  enclosure:  a  tract  of  a  quarter  of 
an  acre,  like  a  hollow  center,  with  the  white  walls 
held  apart  and  the  stars  and  moon  faintly  glimmer 
ing  down  through  the  mist  roof  overhead. 

She  drew  rein  and  half  turned  in  the  saddle.  I 
could  see  her  face.  It  was  dank  and  wan  and  heavy- 
eyed;  her  hair,  somewhat  robbed  of  its  sheen, 
crowned  with  a  pallid  golden  aureole. 

"Will  this  do?  If  we  go  on  we'll  only  be  riding 
into  the  fog  again." 

I  was  conscious  of  the  thin,  apparently  distant  pip 
ing  of  frogs. 

"  There  seems  to  be  a  marsh  beyond,"  she  ut 
tered. 


268  DESERT  DUST 

"  Yes,  we'd  better  stop  where  we  are,"  I  agreed. 
"  Then  in  the  morning  we  can  take  stock." 

"  In  the  morning,  surely.  We  may  not  be  far 
astray."  She  swung  off  before  I  had  awkwardly  dis 
mounted  to  help  her.  Her  limbs  failed — my  own 
were  clamped  by  stiffness — and  she  staggered  and 
collapsed  with  a  little  laugh. 

"  I'm  tired,"  she  confessed.  "  Wait  just  a  mo 
ment." 

"  You  stay  where  you  are,"  I  ordered,  staggering 
also  as  I  hastily  landed.  "  I'll  make  camp." 

But  she  would  have  none  of  that;  pleaded  my  one- 
handedness  and  insisted  upon  cooperating  at  the 
mules.  We  seemed  to  be  marooned  upon  a  small 
rise  of  gravel  and  coarsely  matted  dried  grasses.  The 
animals  were  staked  out,  fell  to  nibbling.  I  sought  a 
spot  for  our  beds;  laid  down  a  buffalo  robe  for  her 
and  placed  her  saddle  as  her  pillow.  She  sank  with  a 
sigh,  tucking  her  skirt  under  her,  and  I  folded  the 
robe  over. 

Her  face  gazed  up  at  me ;  she  extended  her  hand. 

"  You  are  very  kind,  sir,"  she  said,  in  a  smile  that 
pathetically  curved  her  lips.  There,  at  my  knees,  she 
looked  so  worn,  so  slight,  so  childish,  so  in  need  of 
encouragement  that  all  was  well  and  that  she  had  a 
friend  to  serve  her,  that  with  a  rush  of  sudden  sym 
pathy  I  would — indeed  I  could  have  kissed  her,  upon 
the  forehead  if  not  upon  the  lips  themselves.  It  was 
an  impulse  well-nigh  overmastering;  an  impulse  that 


VOICES  IN  THE  VOID  269 

must  have  dazed  me  so  that  she  saw  or  felt,  for  a 
tinge  of  pink  swept  into  her  skin;  she  withdrew  her 
hand  and  settled  composedly. 

"  Good-night.  Please  sleep.  In  the  morning  we'll 
reach  the  stage  road  and  your  troubles  will  be  near 
the  end." 

Under  my  own  robe  I  lay  for  a  long  time  review 
ing  past  and  present  and  discussing  with  myself  the 
future.  Strangely  enough  the  present  occupied  me 
the  most;  it  incorporated  with  that  future  beyond  the 
fog,  and  when  I  put  her  out  back  she  came  as  if  she 
were  part  and  parcel  of  my  life.  There  was  a  sense 
of  balance;  we  had  been  associates,  fellow  tenants — 
in  fact,  she  was  entwined  with  the  warp  and  woof  of 
all  my  memories  dating  far  back  to  my  entrance, 
fresh  and  hopeful,  into  the  new  West.  It  rather  flab 
bergasted  me  to  find  myself  thinking  that  the  future 
was  going  to  be  very  tame;  perhaps,  as  she  had  sug 
gested,  regretful.  I  had  not  apprehended  that  the 
end  should  be  so  drastic. 

And  whether  the  regrets  would  center  upon  my 
slinking  home  defeated,  or  in  having  definitely  cast 
her  away,  puzzled  me  as  sorely  as  it  did  to  discover 
that  I  was  well  content  to  be  here,  with  her,  in  our 
little  clearing  amidst  the  desert  fog,  listening  to  her 
soft  breathing  and  debating  over  what  she  might  have 
done  had  I  actually  kissed  her  to  comfort  her  and  as 
sure  her  that  I  was  not  unmindful  of  her  really  brave 
spirit. 


270  DESERT  DUST 

Daniel  had  been  disposed  of,  Montoyo  did  not  de 
serve  her;  I  had  won  her,  she  could  inspire  and  guide 
me  if  I  stayed;  and  I  saw  myself  staying,  and  I  saw 
myself  going  home,  and  I  already  regretted  a  host  of 
things,  as  a  man  will  when  at  the  forking  of  the  trails. 

The  fog  gently  closed  in  during  the  night.  When 
I  awakened  we  were  again  enshrouded  by  the  fleece 
of  it,  denser  than  when  we  had  ridden  through  it,  but 
now  whiter  with  the  dawn.  As  I  gazed  sleepily  about 
I  could  just  make  out  the  forms  of  the  two  mules, 
standing  motionless  and  huddled;  I  could  see  her 
more  clearly,  at  shorter  distance — her  buffalo  robe 
moist  with  the  semblance  of  dew  that  had  beaded  also 
upon  her  massy  hair. 

Evidently  she  had  not  stirred  all  night;  might  be 
still  asleep.  No;  her  eyes  were  open,  and  when  I 
stiffly  shifted  posture  she  looked  across  at  me. 

"  Sh !  "  she  warned,  with  quick  shake  of  head.  The 
same  warning  bade  me  listen.  In  a  moment  I  heard 
voices. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

V 

I  STAKE  AGAIN 

THEY  were  indistinguishable  except  as  vocal 
sounds  deadened  by  the  impeding  fog;  but  human 
voices  they  certainly  were.  Throwing  off  her  robe 
she  abruptly  sat  up,  seeking,  her  features  tensed  with 
the  strain.  She  beckoned  to  me.  I  scuttled  over,  as 
anxious  as  she.  The  voices  might  be  far,  they  might 
be  near;  but  it  was  an  eerie  situation,  as  if  we  were 
neighboring  with  warlocks. 

"  I've  been  hearing  them  some  little  while,"  she 
whispered. 

"  The  Captain  Adams  men  may  be  trailing  us  ?  " 

"  I  hope  not !  Oh,  I  hope  not,"  she  gasped,  in  sheer 
agony.  "  If  we  might  only  know  in  time." 

Suddenly  the  fog  was  shot  with  gold,  as  the  sun 
flashed  in.  In  obedience  to  the  command  a  slow  and 
stately  movement  began,  by  all  the  troops  of  mist. 
The  myriad  elements  drifted  in  unison,  marching  and 
countermarching  and  rearranging,  until  presently, 
while  we  crouched  intent  to  fathom  the  secrets  of 
their  late  camp,  a  wondrously  beautiful  phenomenon 
offered. 

The    great    army   rose    for   flight,    lifting    like    a 


272  DESERT  DUST 

blanket.  Gradually  the  earth  appeared  in  glimpses 
beneath  their  floating  array,  so  that  whereas  our  plot 
of  higher  ground  was  still  invested,  stooping  low  and 
scanning  we  could  see  beyond  us  by  the  extent  of  a 
narrow  thinning  belt  capped  with  the  heavier  white. 

"  There !  "  she  whispered,  pointing.  "  Look ! 
There  they  are !  " 

Feet,  legs,  moving  of  themselves,  cut  off  at  the 
knees  by  the  fog  layer,  distant  not  more  than  short 
rifle  range:  that  was  what  had  been  revealed.  A  pe 
culiar,  absurd  spectacle  of  a  score  or  two  of  ampu 
tated  limbs  now  resurrected  and  blindly  in  quest  of 
bodies. 

"The  Mormons!"  I  faltered. 

"  No !  Leggins !  Moccasins !  They  are  Indians. 
We  must  leave  right  away  before  they  see  us." 

With  our  stuff  she  ran,  I  ran,  for  the  mules.  We 
worked  rapidly,  bridling  and  saddling  while  the  fog 
rose  with  measured  steadiness. 

"Hurry!"  she  bade. 

The  whole  desert  was  a  golden  haze  when  having 
packed  we  climbed  aboard — she  more  spry  than  I,  so 
that  she  led  again. 

As  we  urged  outward  the  legs,  behind,  had  taken  to 
themselves  thighs.  But  the  mist  briefly  eddied  down 
upon  us;  our  mules'  hoofs  made  no  sound  appreci 
able,  on  the  scantily  moistened  soil;  we  lost  the  legs, 
and  the  voices,  and  pressing  the  pace  I  rode  beside 
her. 


I  STAKE  AGAIN  273 

"Where?"  I  inquired. 

"  As  far  as  we  can  while  the  fog  hangs.  Then  we 
must  hide  in  the  first  good  place.  If  they  don't  strike 
our  trail  we'll  be  all  right." 

The  fog  lingered  in  patches.  From  patch  to  patch 
we  threaded,  with  many  a  glance  over  shoulder.  But 
time  was  traveling  faster.  I  marked  her  searching 
about  nervously.  Blue  had  already  appeared  above, 
the  sun  found  us  again  and  again,  and  the  fog  rem 
nants  went  spinning  and  coiling,  in  last  ghostly  dance 
like  that  of  frenzied  wraiths. 

Now  we  came  to  a  rough  outcrop  of  red  sandstone, 
looming  ruddily  on  our  right.  She  quickly  swerved 
for  it. 

"  The  best  chance.  I  see  nothing  else,"  she  mut 
tered.  "  We  can  tie  the  mules  under  cover,  and  wait. 
We'll  surely  be  spied  if  we  keep  on." 

"Couldn't  we  risk  it?" 

"  No.     We've  not  start  enough." 

In  a  moment  we  had  gained  the  refuge.  The 
sculptured  rock  masses,  detached  one  from  another, 
several  jutting  ten  feet  up,  received  us.  We  tied  the 
mules  short,  in  a  nook  at  the  rear;  and  we  ourselves 
crawled  on,  farther  in,  until  we  lay  snug  amidst  the 
shadowing  buttresses,  with  the  desert  vista  opening 
before  us. 

The  fog  wraiths  were  very  few;  the  sun  blazed 
more  vehemently  and  wiped  them  out,  so  that  through 
the  marvelously  clear  air  the  expanse  of  lone,  weird 


274  DESERT  DUST 

country  stood  forth  clean  cut.  No  moving  object 
could  escape  notice  in  this  watchful  void.  And  we 
had  been  just  in  time.  The  slight  knoll  had  been  left 
not  a  mile  to  the  southwest.  I  heard  My  Lady  catch 
breath,  felt  her  hand  find  mine  as  we  lay  almost 
touching.  Rounding  the  knoll  there  appeared  a  file  of 
mounted  figures;  by  their  robes  and  blankets,  their 
tufted  lances  and  gaudy  shields,  yes,  by  the  very  way 
they  sat  their  painted  ponies,  Indians  unmistakably. 

"  They  must  have  been  camped  near  us  all  night." 
And  she  shuddered.  "  Now  if  they  only  don't  cross 
our  trail.  We  mustn't  move." 

They  came  on  at  a  canter,  riding  bravely,  glancing 
right  and  left — a  score  of  them  headed  by  a  scarlet- 
blanketed  man  upon  a  spotted  horse.  So  transparent 
was  the  air,  washed  by  the  fog  and  vivified  by  the 
sun,  that  I  could  decipher  the  color  pattern  of  his 
shield  emblazonry:  a  checkerboard  of  red  and  black. 

"  A  war  party.  Sioux,  I  think,"  she  said.  "  Don't 
they  carry  scalps  on  that  first  lance?  They've  been 
raiding  the  stage  line.  Do  you  see  any  squaws  ?  " 

"  No,"  I  hazarded,  with  beating  heart.  "  All  war 
riors,  I  should  guess." 

"  All  warriors.     But  squaws  would  be  worse." 

On  they  cantered,  until  their  paint  stripes  and 
daubs  were  hideously  plain;  we  might  note  every  de 
tail  of  their  savage  muster.  They  were  paralleling 
our  outward  course;  indeed,  seemed  to  be  diverging 
from  our  ambush  and  making  more  to  the  west.  And 


I  STAKE  AGAIN  275 

I  had  hopes  that,  after  all,  we  were  safe.  Then  her 
hand  clutched  mine  firmly.  A  wolf  had  leaped  from 
covert  in  the  path  of  the  file;  loped  eastward  across 
the  desert,  and  instantly,  with  a  whoop  that  echoed 
upon  us  like  the  crack  of  doom,  a  young  fellow  darted 
from  the  line  in  gay  pursuit. 

My  Lady  drew  quick  breath,  with  despairing  excla 
mation. 

"  That  is  cruel,  cruel !  They  might  have  ridden 
past ;  but  now — look !  " 

The  stripling  warrior  (he  appeared  to  be  scarcely 
more  than  a  boy)  hammered  in  chase,  stringing  his 
bow  and  plucking  arrow.  The  wolf  cast  eye  over  plung 
ing  shoulder,  and  lengthened.  Away  they  tore,  while 
the  file  slackened,  to  watch.  Our  trail  of  flight  bore 
right  athwart  the  wolf's  projected  route.  There  was 
just  the  remote  chance  that  the  lad  would  overrun  it, 
in  his  eagerness;  and  for  that  intervening  moment  of 
grace  we  stared,  fascinated,  hand  clasping  hand. 

"  He's  found  it !  He's  found  it !  "  she  announced, 
in  a  little  wail. 

In  mid-career  the  boy  had  checked  his  pony  so 
shortly  that  the  four  hoofs  ploughed  the  sand.  He 
wheeled  on  a  pivot  and  rode  back  for  a  few  yards, 
scanning  the  ground,  letting  the  wolf  go.  The  still 
ness  that  had  settled  while  we  gazed  and  the  file  of 
warriors,  reining,  gazed,  gripped  and  fairly  hurt.  I 
cursed  the  youth.  Would  to  God  he  had  stayed  at 
home — God  grant  that  mangy  wolf  died  by  trap  or 


276  DESERT  DUST 

poison.  Our  one  chance  made  the  sport  of  an  acci 
dental  view-halloo,  when  all  the  wide  desert  was 
open. 

The  youth  had  halted  again,  leaning  from  his.  sad 
dle  pad.  He  raised,  he  flung  up  glad  hand  and  com 
menced  to  ride  in  circles,  around  and  around  and 
around.  The  band  galloped  to  him. 

"  Yes,  he  has  found  it,"  she  said.  "  Now  they  will 
come." 

"  What  shall  we  do?  "  I  asked  her. 

And  she  answered,  releasing  my  hand. 

"  I  don't  know.  But  we  must  wait.  We  can  stand 
them  off  for  a  while,  I  suppose " 

"  I'll  do  my  best,  with  the  revolver,"  I  promised. 

"Yes,"  she  murmured.     "But  after  that ?" 

I  had  no  reply.  This  contingency — we  two  facing 
Indians — was  outside  my  calculations. 

The  Indians  had  grouped;  several  had  dismounted, 
peering  closely  at  our  trail,  reading  it,  timing  it,  ac 
curately  estimating  it.  They  had  no  difficulty,  for 
the  hoof  prints  were  hardly  dried  of  the  fog  mois 
ture.  The  others  sat  idly,  searching  the  horizons 
with  their  eyes,  but  at  confident  ease.  In  the  wide 
expanse  this  rock  fortress  of  ours  seemed  to  me  to 
summon  imperatively,  challenging  them.  They  surely 
must  know.  Yet  there  they  delayed,  torturing  us, 
playing  blind,  emulating  cat  and  mouse ;  but  of  course 
they  were  reasoning  and  making  certain. 

Now  the  dismounted  warriors  vaulted  ahorse;  at  a 


I  STAKE  AGAIN  277 

gesture  from  the  chief  two  men  rode  aside,  farther  to 
the  east,  seeking  other  sign.  They  found  none,  and 
to  his  shrill  hail  they  returned. 

There  was  another  command.  The  company  had 
strung  bows,  stripped  their  rifles  of  the  buckskin 
sheaths,  had  dropped  robe  and  blanket  about  their 
loins;  they  spread  out  to  right  and  left  in  close  skir 
mish  order;  they  advanced  three  scouts,  one  on  the 
trail,  one  on  either  flank;  and  in  a  broadened  front 
they  followed  with  a  discipline,  an  earnestness,  a  pre 
cision  of  purpose  and  a  deadly  anticipation  that 
drowned  every  fleeting  hope. 

This  was  unbearable:  to  lie  here  awaiting  an  in 
evitable  end. 

"  Shall  we  make  a  break  for  it  ? "  I  proposed. 
"  Ride  and  fight  ?  We  might  reach  the  train,  or  a 
stage  station.  Quick !  " 

In  my  wild  desire  for  action  I  half  arose.  Her 
hand  restrained  me. 

"  It  would  be  madness,  Mr.  Beeson.  We'd  stand 
no  show  at  all  in  the  open;  not  on  these  poor  mules." 
She  murmured  to  herself.  "  Yes,  they're  Sioux. 
That's  not  so  bad.  Were  they  Cheyennes — dog- 
soldiers Let  me  think.  I  must  talk  with 

them." 

"  But  they're  coming,"  I  rasped.  "  They're  getting 
in  range.  We've  the  gun,  and  twenty  cartridges. 
Maybe  if  I  kill  the  chief " 

She  spoke,  positive,  under  breath. 


278  DESERT  DUST 

"  Don't  shoot !  Don't !  They  know  we're  here — 
know  it  perfectly  well.  I  shall  talk  with  them." 

"  You  ?  How  ?  Why  ?  Can  you  persuade  them  ? 
Would  they  let  us  go  ?  " 

"  I'll  do  what  I  can.  I  have  a  few  words  of  Sioux ; 
and  there's  the  sign  language.  See,"  she  said. 
"  They've  discovered  our  mules.  They  know  we're 
only  two." 

The  scouts  on  either  flanks  had  galloped  outward 
and  onward,  in  swift  circle,  peering  at  our  defenses. 
Lying  low  they  scoured  at  full  speed;  with  mutual 
whoop  they  crisscrossed  beyond  and  turned  back  for 
the  main  body  halted  two  hundred  yards  out  upon  the 
flat  plain. 

There  was  a  consultation;  on  a  sudden  a  great 
chorus  of  exultant  cries  rang,  the  force  scattered, 
shaking  fists  and  weapons,  preparing  for  a  tentative 
charge ;  and  ere  I  could  stop  her  My  Lady  had  sprung 
upright,  to  mount  upon  a  rock  and  all  in  view  to  hold 
open  hand  above  her  head.  The  sunshine  glinted 
upon  her  hair;  a  fugitive  little  breeze  bound  her 
shabby  gown  closer  about  her  slim  figure. 

They  had  seen  her  instantly.  Another  chorus 
burst,  this  time  in  astonishment;  a  dozen  guns  were 
leveled,  covering  her  and  our  nest  while  every  visage 
stared.  But  no  shot  belched;  thank  God,  no  shot, 
with  me  powerless  to  prevent,  just  as  I  was  powerless 
to  intercept  her.  The  chief  rode  forward,  at  a  walk, 
his  hand  likewise  lifted. 


THE  SCOUTS   GALLOPED  ONWARD. 


I  STAKE  AGAIN  279 

"  Keep  down !  Keep  down,  please,"  she  directed 
to  me,  while  she  stood  motionless.  "  Let  me  try." 

The  chief  neared  until  we  might  see  his  every  linea 
ment — every  item  of  his  trappings,  even  to  the  black- 
tipped  eagle  feather  erect  at  the  part  in  his  braids. 
And  he  rode  carelessly,  fearlessly,  to  halt  within  easy 
speaking  distance;  sat  a  moment,  rifle  across  his  leg- 
gined  thighs  and  the  folds  of  his  scarlet  blanket — a 
splendid  man,  naked  from  the  waist  up,  his  coppery 
chest  pigment-daubed,  his  slender  arms  braceleted  with 
metal,  his  eyes  devouring  her  so  covetously  that  I  felt 
the  gloating  thoughts  behind  them. 

He  called  inquiringly:  a  greeting  and  a  demand  in 
one,  it  sounded.  She  replied.  And  what  they  two 
said,  in  word  and  sign,  I  could  not  know,  but  all  the 
time  I  held  my  revolver  upon  him,  until  to  my  relief 
he  abruptly  wheeled  his  horse  and  cantered  back  to 
his  men,  leaving  me  with  wrist  aching  and  heart 
pounding  madly. 

She  stepped  lightly  down;  answered  my  querying 
look. 

"  It's  all  right.  I'm  going,  and  so  are  you,"  she 
said,  with  a  faint  smile,  oddly  subtle — a  tremulous 
smile  in  a  white  face. 

About  her  there  was  a  mystery  which  alarmed 
me;  made  me  sit  up,  chilled,  to  eye  her  and  ac 
cuse. 

"Where?  We  are  free,  you  mean?  What's  the 
bargain?" 


280  DESERT  DUST 

"  I  go  to  them.  You  go  where  you  choose — to  the 
stage  road,  of  course.  I  have  his  promise." 

This  brought  me  to  my  feet,  rigid ;  more  than  scan 
dalized,  for  no  word  can  express  the  shock. 

"  You  go  to  them  ?    And  then  where  ?  " 

She  answered  calmly,  flushing  a  little,  smiling  a  little, 
her  eyes  sincere. 

"  It's  the  best  way  and  the  only  way.  We  shall 
neither  of  us  be  harmed,  now.  The  chief  will  pro 
vide  for  me  and  you  yourself  are  free.  No,  no,"  she 
said,  checking  my  first  indignant  cry.  "  Really  I 
don't  mind.  The  Indians  are  about  the  only  persons 
left  to  me.  I'll  be  safe  with  them."  She  laughed 
rather  sadly,  but  brightened.  "  I  don't  know  but  that 
I  prefer  them  to  the  whites.  I  told  you  I  had  no 
place.  And  this  saves  you  also,  you  see.  I  got  you 
into  it — I've  felt  that  you  blamed  me,  almost  hated 
me.  Things  have  been  breaking  badly  for  me  ever 
since  we  met  again  in  Benton.  So  it's  up  to  me  to 
make  good.  You  can  go  home,  and  I  shall  not  be  un 
happy,  I  think.  Please  believe  that.  The  wife  of  a 
great  chief  is  quite  a  personage — he  won't  inquire 
into  my  past.  But  if  we  try  to  stay  here  you  will 
certainly  be  killed,  and  I  shall  suffer,  and  we  shall 
gain  nothing.  You  must  take  my  money.  Please  do. 
Then  good-bye.  I  told  him  I  would  come  out,  under 
his  promise." 

She  and  the  rocks  reeled  together.  That  was  my 
eyes,  giddy  with  a  rush  of  blood,  surging  and  hot. 


I  STAKE  AGAIN  281 

"  Never,  never,  never ! "  I  was  shouting,  ignoring 
her  hand.  How  she  had  misjudged  me!  What  a 
shame  she  had  put  upon  me!  I  could  not  credit. 
"  You  shall  not — I  tell  you,  you  sha'n't.  I  won't 
have  it — it's  monstrous,  preposterous.  You  sha'n't 
go,  I  sha'n't  go.  But  wherever  we  go  we'll  go  to 
gether.  We'll  stand  them  off.  Then  if  they  can  take 
us,  let  'em.  You  make  a  coward  of  me — a  dastard. 
You've  no  right  to.  I'd  rather  die." 

"  Listen,"  she  chided,  her  hand  grasping  my  sleeve. 
"They  would  take  me  anyway — don't  you  see? 
After  they  had  killed  you.  It  would  be  the  worse  for 
both  of  us.  What  can  you  do,  with  one  arm,  and  a 
revolver,  and  an  unlucky  woman?  No,  Mr.  Beeson 
(she  was  firm  and  strangely  formal)  ;  the  cards  are 
faced  up.  I  have  closed  a  good  bargain  for  both  of 
us.  When  you  are  out,  you  need  say  nothing.  Per 
haps  some  day  I  may  be  ransomed,  should  I  wish  to 
be.  But  we  can  talk  no  further  now.  He  is  impa 
tient.  The  money — you  will  need  the  money,  and  I 
shall  not.  Please  turn  your  back  and  I'll  get  at  my 
belt.  Why,"  she  laughed,  "  how  well  everything  is 
coming.  You  are  disposed  of,  I  am  disposed 
of " 

"  Money !  "  I  roared.  "  God  in  Heaven !  You  dis 
posed  of?  I  disposed  of?  And  my  honor,  madam! 
What  of  that?" 

"And  what  of  mine,  Mr.  Beeson?  "  She  stamped 
her  foot,  coloring.  "Will  you  turn  your  back, 


282  DESERT  DUST 

or ?  Oh,  we've  talked  too  long.  But  the  belt 

you  shall  have.  Here "  She  fumbled  within  her 

gown.  "  And  now,  adios  and  good  luck.  You  shall 
not  despise  me." 

The  chief  was  advancing  accompanied  by  a  war 
rior.  Behind  him  his  men  waited  expectant,  gathered 
as  an  ugly  blotch  upon  the  dun  desert.  Her  honor? 
The  word  had  double  meaning.  Should  she  sacrifice 
the  one  honor  in  this  crude  essay  to  maintain  the 
other  which  she  had  not  lost,  to  my  now  opened  eyes  ? 
I  could  not  deliver  her  tender  body  over  to  that 
painted  swaggerer — any  more  than  I  could  have  de 
livered  it  over  to  Daniel  himself.  At  last  I  knew,  I 
knew.  History  had  written  me  a  fool,  and  a  cad, 
but  it  should  not  write  me  a  dastard.  We  were  to^ 
gether,  and  together  we  should  always  be,  come  weal 
or  woe,  life  or  death. 

The  money  belt  had  been  dropped  at  my  feet.  She 
had  turned — I  leaped  before  her,  thrust  her  to  rear, 
answered  the  hail  of  the  pausing  chief. 

"No!"  I  squalled.  And  I  added  for  emphasis: 
"  You  go  to  hell." 

He  understood.  The  phrase  might  have  been  fa 
miliar  English  to  him.  I  saw  him  stiffen  in  his  sad 
dle;  he  called  loudly,  and  raised  his  rifle,  threatening; 
with  a  gasp — a  choked  "  Good-bye  " — she  darted  by 
me,  running  on  for  the  open  and  for  him.  She  and 
he  filled  all  my  landscape.  In  a  stark  blinding  rage 
of  fear,  chagrin,  rancorous  jealousy,  I  leveled  revol- 


I  STAKE  AGAIN  283 

ver  and  pulled  trigger,  but  not  at  her,  though  even 
that  was  not  beyond  me  in  the  crisis. 

The  bullet  thwacked  smartly;  the  chief  uttered 
terrible  cry,  his  rifle  was  tossed  high,  he  bowed, 
swayed  downward,  his  comrade  grabbed  him,  and 
they  were  racing  back  closely  side  by  side  and  she  was 
running  back  to  me  and  the  warriors  were  shrieking 
and  brandishing  their  weapons  and  bullets  spatted  the 
rocks — all  this  while  yet  my  hand  shook  to  the  recoil 
of  the  revolver  and  the  smoke  was  still  wafting  from 
the  poised  muzzle. 

What  had  I  done  ?    But  done  it  was. 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  QUEEN  WINS 

SHE  arrived  breathless,  distraught,  instantly  to 
drag  me  down  beside  her,  from  where  I  stood  stu 
pidly  defiant. 

"Keep  out  of  sight,"  she  panted.  And— "  Oh, 
why  did  you  do  it?  Why  did  you?  I  think  you 
killed  him — they'll  never  forgive.  They'll  call  it 
treachery.  You're  lost,  lost." 

"  But  he  sha'n't  have  you,"  I  gabbled.  "  Let  them 
kill  me  if  they  can.  Till  then  you're  mine.  Mine! 
Don't  you  understand?  I  want  you." 

"  I  don't  understand,"  she  faltered.  She  turned 
frightened  face  upon  me.  "  You  should  have  let  me 
go.  Nothing  can  save  you  now;  not  even  I.  You've 
ruined  the  one  chance  you  had.  I  wonder  why.  It 
was  my  own  choice — you  had  no  hand  in  it,  and  it 
was  my  own  chance,  too."  Her  voice  broke,  her  eyes 
welled  piteously.  "  But  you  fired  on  him." 

"  That  was  the  only  answer  left  me,"  I  entreated. 
"You  misjudged  me,  you  shamed  me.  I  tell 
you "  " 

Her  lips  slightly  curled. 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  285 

"Misjudged  you?  Shamed  you?  Was  that  all? 

You've  misjudged  and  shamed  me  for  so  long " 

A  burst  of  savage  hoots  renewed  interrupted. 
"  They're  coming !  "  She  knelt  up,  to  peer ;  I  peered. 
The  Indians  had  deployed,  leaving  the  chief  lying 
upon  the  ground,  their  fierce  countenances  glaring  at 
our  asylum.  How  clear  their  figures  were,  in  the 
sunshine,  limned  against  the  lazy  yellowish  sand, 
under  the  peaceful  blue !  "  They'll  surround  us.  I 
might  parley  for  myself,  but  I  can  do  nothing  for 
you." 

"  Parley,  then,"  I  bade.  "  Save  yourself,  any  way 
you  can." 

She  drew  in,  whitening  as  if  I  had  struck  her. 

"  And  you  accuse  me  of  having  misjudged  you! 
I  save  myself — merely  myself?  What  do  you  intend 
to  do?  Fight?" 

"  As  long  as  you  are  with  me ;  and  after.  They'll 
never  take  me  alive;  and  take  you  they  shall  not 
if  I  can  prevent  it.  Damn  them,  if  they  get  you 
I  mean  to  make  them  pay  for  you.  You're  all  I 
have." 

"You'd  rather  I'd  stay?  You  need  me?  Could  I 
help?" 

"  Need  you !  "  I  groaned.  "  I'm  just  finding  out, 
too  late." 

"  And  help  ?    How  ?    Quick !    Could  I  ?  " 

"By  staying;  by  not  surrendering  yourself — your 
honor,  my  honor.  By  saying  that  you'd  rather  stay 


286  DESERT  DUST 

with  me,  for  life,  for  death,  here,  anywhere — after 
I've  said  that  I'm  not  deaf,  blind,  dumb,  ungrateful. 
I  love  you;  I'd  rather  die  for  you  than  live  without 
you." 

Such  a  glory  glowed  in  her  haggard  face  and  shone 
from  her  brimming  eyes. 

"  We  will  fight,  we  will  fight ! "  she  chanted. 
"  Now  I  shall  not  leave  you.  Oh,  my  man !  Had 
you  kissed  me  last  night  we  would  have  known  this 
longer.  We  have  so  little  time."  She  turned  from 
my  lips.  "Not  now.  They're  coming.  Fight  first; 
and  at  the  end,  then  kiss  me,  please,  and  we'll  go  to 
gether." 

The  furious  yells  from  that  world  outside  vibrated 
among  our  rocks.  The  Sioux  all  were  in  motion,  ex 
cept  the  prostrate  figure  of  the  chief.  Straight  on 
ward  they  charged,  at  headlong  gallop,  to  ride  over 
us  like  a  grotesquely  tinted  wave,  and  the  dull  drum 
ming  of  their  ponies'  hoofs  beat  a  diapason  to  the 
shrill  clamor  of  their  voices.  It  was  enough  to  cow, 
but  she  spoke  steadily. 

"You  must  fire,"  she  said.  "Hurry!  Fire  once, 
maybe  twice,  to  split  them.  I  don't  think  they'll  rush 
us,  yet." 

So  I  rose  farther  on  my  knees  and  fired  once — 
and  again,  pointblank  at  them  with  the  heavy  Colt's. 
It  worked  a  miracle.  Every  mother's  son  of  them 
fell  flat  upon  his  pony ;  they  all  swooped  to  right  and 
to  left  as  if  the  bullets  had  cleaved  them  apart  in  the 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  287 

center;  and  while  I  gaped,  wondering,  they  swept 
past  at  long  range,  half  on  either  flank,  pelting  in 
bullet  and  near-spent  arrow. 

She  forced  me  down. 

"  Low,  low,"  she  warned.  "  They'll  circle.  They 
hold  their  scalps  dearly.  We  can  only  wait.  That 
was  three.  You  have  fifteen  shots  left,  for  them; 
then,  one  for  me,  one  for  you.  You  understand  ?  " 

"I  understand,"  I  replied.  "And  if  I'm  dis 
abled ?" 

She  answered  quietly. 

"  It  will  be  the  same.     One  for  you,  one  for  me." 

The  circle  had  been  formed:  a  double  circle,  to 
move  in  two  directions,  scudding  ring  reversed  within 
scudding  ring,  the  bowmen  outermost.  Around  and 
'round  and  'round  they  galloped,  yelling,  gibing,  taunt 
ing,  shooting  so  malignantly  that  the  air  was  in  a  con 
stant  hum  and  swish.  The  lead  whined  and  smacked, 
the  shafts  streaked  and  clattered 

"Are  you  sorry  I  shot  the  chief  ?  "  I  asked.  Amid 
the  confusion  my  blood  was  coursing  evenly,  and  I 
was  not  afraid.  Of  what  avail  was  fear? 

"  I'm  glad,  glad,"  she  proclaimed.  But  with  sud 
den  movement  she  was  gone,  bending  low,  then  crawl 
ing,  then  whisking  from  sight.  Had  she  abandoned 
me,  after  all?  Had  she — no!  God  be  thanked,  here 
she  came  back,  flushed  and  triumphant,  a  canteen  in 
her  hand. 

"  The  mules  might  break,"  she  explained,  short  of 


288  DESERT  DUST 

breath.  "  This  canteen  is  full.  We'll  need  it  The 
other  mule  is  frantic.  I  couldn't  touch  her." 

At  the  moment  I  thought  how  wise  and  brave  and 
beautiful  she  was!  Mine  for  the  hour,  here — and 
after?  Montoyo  should  never  have  her;  not  in  life 
nor  in  death. 

"  You  must  stop  some  of  those  fiends  from  sneaking 
closer,"  she  counseled.  "  See  ?  They're  trying  us 
out." 

More  and  more  frequently  some  one  of  the  scurry 
ing  enemy  veered  sharply,  tore  in  toward  us,  hanging 
upon  the  farther  side  of  his  horse ;  boldly  jerked  erect 
and  shot,  and  with  demi-volt  of  his  mount  was  away, 
whooping. 

I  had  been  desperately  saving  the  ammunition,  to 
eke  out  this  hour  of  mine  with  her.  Every  note  from 
the  revolver  summoned  the  end  a  little  nearer.  But 
we  had  our  game  to  play;  and  after  all,  the  end  was 
certain.  So  under  her  prompting  (she  being  partner, 
commander,  everything),  when  the  next  painted  ruf 
fian — a  burly  fellow  in  drapery  of  flannel- fringed  cot 
ton  shirt,  with  flaunting  crimson  tassels  on  his  pony's 
mane — bore  down,  I  guessed  shrewdly,  arose  and  let 
him  have  it 

She  cried  out,  clapping  her  hands. 

"Good!    Good!" 

The  pony  was  sprawling  and  kicking;  the  rider  had 
hurtled  free,  and  went  jumping  and  dodging  like  a 
jack-rabbit 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  289 

"To  the  right!     Watch!" 

Again  I  needs  must  fire,  driving  the  rascals  aside 
with  the  report  of  the  Colt's.  That  was  five.  Not 
sparing  my  wounded  arm  I  hastily  reloaded,  for  by 
custom  of  the  country  the  hammer  had  rested  over 
an  empty  chamber.  I  filled  the  cylinder. 

"  They're  killing  the  mules,"  she  said.  "  But  we 
can't  help  it." 

The  two  mules  were  snorting  and  plunging;  their 
hoofs  rang  against  the  rocks.  Sioux  to  rear  had  dis 
mounted  and  were  shooting  carefully.  Ihere  was 
exultant  shout— one  mule  had  broken  loose.  She  gal 
loped  out,  reddened,  stirrups  swinging,  canteen 
bouncing,  right  into  the  waiting  line;  and  down  she 
lunged,  abristle  with  feathered  points  launched  into 
her  by  sheer  spiteful  joy. 

The  firing  was  resumed.  We  heard  the  other  mule 
scream  with  note  indescribable;  we  heard 'him  floun 
der  and  kick ;  and  again  the  savages  yelled. 

Now  they  all  charged  recklessly  from  the  four 
sides;  and  I  had  to  stand  and  fire,  right,  left,  before, 
behind,  emptying  the  gun  once  more  ere  they  scat 
tered  and  fled.  I  sensed  her  fingers  twitching  at  my 
belt,  extracting  fresh  cartridges.  We  sank,  breathing 
hard.  Her  eyes  were  wide,  and  bluer  than  any  deep 
est  summer  sea;  her  face  aflame;  her  hair  of  purest 
gold — and  upon  her  shoulder  a  challenging  oriflamme 
of  scarlet,  staining  a  rent  in  the  faded  calico. 

"You're  hurt!"  I  blurted,  aghast. 


290  DESERT  DUST 

"  Not  much.  A  scratch.  Don't  mind  it.  And 
you?" 

"  I'm  not  touched." 

"  Load,  sir.  But  I  think  we'll  have  a  little  space. 
How  many  left?  Nine."  She  had  been  counting. 
"  Seven  for  them." 

"  Seven  for  them,"  I  acknowledged.  I  tucked 
home  the  loads;  the  six-shooter  was  ready. 

"  Now  let  them  come,"  she  murmured. 

"  Let  them  come,"  I  echoed.  We  looked  one  upon 
the  other,  and  we  smiled.  It  was  not  so  bad,  this 
place,  our  minds  having  been  made  up  to  it.  In  fact, 
there  was  something  sweet.  Our  present  was  as 
sured;  we  faced  a  future  together,  at  least;  we  were 
in  accord. 

The  Sioux  had  retired,  mainly  to  sit  dismounted  in 
close  circle,  for  a  confab.  Occasionally  a  young 
brave,  a  vidette,  exuberantly  galloped  for  us,  dared 
us,  shook  hand  and  weapon  at  us,  no  doubt  spat  at  us, 
and  gained  nothing  by  his  brag. 

"  What  will  they  do  next?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  she.  "  We  shall  see, 
though." 

So  we  lay,  gazing,  not  speaking.  The  sun  streamed 
down,  flattening  the  desert  with  his  fervent  beams  un 
til  the  uplifts  cringed  low  and  in  the  horizons  the 
mountain  peaks  floated  languidly  upon  the  waves  of 
heat.  And  in  all  this  dispassionate  land,  from  hori 
zon  to  horizon,  there  were  only  My  Lady  and  I,  and 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  291 

the  beleaguering  Sioux.  It  seemed  unreal,  a  fantasy; 
but  the  rocks  began  to  smell  scorched,  a  sudden  thirst 
nagged  and  my  wounded  arm  pained  with  weariness 
as  if  to  remind  that  I  was  here,  in  the  body.  Yes,  and 
here  she  was,  also,  in  the  flesh,  as  much  as  I,  for  she 
stirred,  glanced  at  me,  and  smiled.  I  heard  her, 
saw  her,  felt  her  presence.  I  placed  my  hand  over 
hers. 

"  What  is  it?  "  she  queried. 

"  Nothing.    I  wanted  to  make  sure." 

"Of  yourself?" 

"  Of  you,  me — of  everything." 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt,"  she  said.  "  I  wish  there 
might,  for  your  sake." 

"  No,"  I  thickly  answered.  "If  you  were  only  out 
of  it — if  we  could  find  some  way." 

"  I'd  rather  be  in  here,  with  you,"  said  she. 

"And  I,  with  you,  then,"  I  replied  honestly.  The 
thought  of  water  obsessed.  She  must  have  read,  for 
she  inquired: 

"Aren't  you  thirsty?" 

"Are  you?" 

"  Yes.    Why  don't  we  drink?  " 

"Should  we?" 

"Why  not?  We  might  as  well  be  as  comfortable 
as  we  can."  She  reached  for  the  canteen  lying  in  a 
fast  dwindling  strip  of  rock  shade.  We  drank  spar 
ingly.  She  let  me  dribble  a  few  drops  upon  her 
shoulder.  Thenceforth  by  silent  agreement  we  mois- 


292  v    DESERT  DUST 

tened  our  tongues,  scrupulously  turn  about,  wringing 
the  most  from  each  brief  sip  as  if  testing  the  bouquet 
of  exquisite  wine.  Came  a  time  when  we  regretted 
this  frugalness;  but  just  now  there  persisted  within 
us,  I  suppose,  that  germ  of  hope  which  seems  to  be 
nourished  by  the  soul. 

The  Sioux  had  counciled  and  decided.  They  faced 
us,  in  manner  determined.  We  waited,  tense  and 
watchful.  Without  even  a  premonitory  shout  a  pony 
bolted  for  us,  from  their  huddle.  He  bore  two  riders, 
naked  to  the  sun,  save  for  breech  clouts.  They 
charged  straight  in,  and  at  her  mystified,  alarmed 
murmur  I  was  holding  on  them  as  best  I  could,  ringer 
crooked  against  trigger,  coaxing  it,  praying  for  luck, 
when  the  rear  rider  dropped  to  the  ground,  bounded 
briefly  and  dived  headlong,  worming  into  a  little  hol 
low  of  the  sand. 

He  lay  half  concealed;  the  pony  had  wheeled  to  a 
shrill,  jubilant  chorus ;  his  remaining  rider  lashed  him 
in  retreat,  leaving  the  first  digging  lustily  with  hand 
and  knife. 

That  was  the  system,  then:  an  approach  by  rushes. 

"  We  mustn't  permit  it,"  she  breathed.  "  We  must 
rout  him  out — we  must  keep  them  all  out  or  they'll 
get  where  they  can  pick  you  off.  Can  you  reach 
him?" 

"  I'll  try,"  said  I. 

The  tawny  figure,  prone  upon  the  tawny  sand,  was 
just  visible,  lean  and  snakish,  slightly  oscillating  as  it 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  293 

worked.  And  I  took  careful  aim,  and  fired,  and  saw 
the  spurt  from  the  bullet. 

"  A  little  lower — oh,  just  a  little  lower,"  she 
pleaded. 

The  same  courier  was  in  leash,  posted  to  bring  an 
other  fellow;  all  the  Sioux  were  gazing,  statuesque, 
to  analyze  my  marksmanship.  And  I  fired  again — 
"  Too  low,"  she  muttered — and  quickly,  with  a  curse, 
again. 

She  cried  out  joyfully.  The  snake  had  flopped 
from  its  hollow,  plunged  at  full  length  aside;  had 
started  to  crawl,  writhing,  dragging  its  hinder  parts. 
But  with  a  swoop  the  pony  arrived  before  we  were 
noting;  the  recruit  plumped  into  the  hollow;  and 
bending  over  in  his  swift  circle  the  courier  snatched 
the  snake  from  the  ground ;  sped  back  with  him. 

The  Sioux  seized  upon  the  moment  of  stress. 
They  cavorted,  scouring  hither  and  thither,  yelling, 
shooting,  and  once  more  our  battered  haven  seethed 
with  the  hum  and  hiss  and  rebound  of  lead  and  shaft. 
That,  and  my  eagerness,  told.  The  fellow  in  the 
foreground  burrowed  cleverly;  he  submerged  farther 
and  farther,  by  rapid  inches.  I  fired  twice — we  could 
not  see  that  I  had  even  inconvenienced  him.  My 
Lady  clutched  my  revolver  arm. 

"  No !    Wait !  "    The  tone  rang  dismayed. 

Trembling,  blinded  with  heat  and  powder  smoke, 
and  heart  sick,  I  paused,  to  fumble  and  to  reload  the 
almost  emptied  cylinder. 


294  DESERT  DUST 

"  I  can't  reach  him,"  said  I.    "  He's  too  far  in." 

Her  voice  answered  gently. 

"  No  matter,  dear.  You're  firing  too  hastily. 
Don't  forget  Please  rest  a  minute,  and  drink.  You 
can  bathe  your  eyes.  It's  hard,  shooting  across  the 
hot  sand.  They'll  bring  others.  We've  no  need  to 
save  water,  you  know." 

"  I  know,"  I  admitted. 

We  niggardly  drank.  I  dabbled  my  burning  eyes, 
cleared  my  sight.  Of  the  fellow  in  the  rifle  pit  there 
was  no  living  token.  The  Sioux  had  ceased  their 
gambols.  They  sat  steadfast,  again  anticipative.  A 
stillness,  menaceful  and  brooding,  weighted  the  land 
scape. 

She  sighed. 

"Well?" 

The  pregnant  truce  oppressed.  What  was  hatching 
out,  now?  I  cautiously  shifted  posture,  to  stretch  and 
scan;  instinctively  groped  for  the  canteen,  to  wet  my 
lips  again;  a  puff  of  smoke  burst  from  the  hollow,  the 
canteen  clinked,  flew  from  my  hand  and  went  clatter 
ing  among  the  rocks. 

"  Oh !  "  she  cried,  aghast.  "  But  you're  not  hurt  ?  " 
Then — "  I  saw  him.  He'll  come  up  again,  in  a  mo 
ment.  Be  ready." 

The  Sioux  in  the  background  were  shrieking. 
They  had  accounted  for  our  mules;  by  chance  shot 
they  had  nipped  our  water.  Yet  neither  event  af 
fected  us  as  they  seemed  to  think  it  should.  Mules, 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  295 

water — these  were  inconsequentials  in  the  long-run 
that  was  due  to  be  short,  at  most.  We  husbanded 
other  relief  in  our  keeping. 

Suddenly,  as  I  craned,  the  fellow  fired  again;  he 
was  a  good  shot,  had  discovered  a  niche  in  our  ram 
part,  for  the  ball  fanned  my  cheek  with  the  wings  of 
a  vicious  wasp.  On  the  instant  I  replied,  snapping 
quick  answer. 

"  I  don't  think  you  hit  him,"  she  said.  "  Let  me 
try.  It  may  change  the  luck.  You're  tired.  I'll  hold 
on  the  spot — he'll  come  up  in  the  same  place,  head 
and  shoulders.  You'll  have  to  tempt  him.  Are  you 
afraid,  sir?"  She  smiled  upon  me  as  she  took  the 
revolver. 

"  But  if  he  kills  me ?  "  I  faltered. 

"What  of  that?" 

"  You." 

"  I?  "    Her  face  filled.     "  I  should  not  be  long." 

She  adjusted  the  revolver  to  a  crevice  a  little  re 
moved  from  me — "  They  will  be  hunting  you,  not 
me,"  she  said — and  crouched  behind  it,  peering  ear 
nestly  out,  intent  upon  the  hollow.  And  I  edged 
farther,  and  farther,  as  if  seeking  for  a  mark,  but 
with  all  my  flesh  a-prickle  and  my  breath  fast,  like 
any  man,  I  assert,  who  forces  himself  to  invite  the 
striking  capabilities  of  a  rattlesnake. 

Abruptly  it  came — the  strike,  so  venomous  that  it 
stung  my  face  and  scalded  my  eyes  with  the  spatter 
of  sandstone  and  hot  lead;  at  the  moment  her  Colt's 


296  DESERT  DUST 

bellowed  into  my  ears,  thunderous  because  even  un 
expected.  I  could  not  see;  I  only  heard  an  utterance 
that  was  cheer  and  sob  in  one. 

"  I  got  him!     Are  you  hurt?     Are  you  hurt?  " 

"No.    Hurrah!" 

"  Hurrah,  dear." 

The  air  rocked  with  the  shouts  of  the  Sioux; 
shouts  never  before  so  welcome  in  their  tidings,  for 
they  were  shouts  of  rage  and  disappointment.  They 
flooded  my  eyes  with  vigor,  wiped  away  the  daze  of 
the  bullet  impact;  the  hollow  leaped  to  the  fore — 
upon  its  low  parapet  a  dull  shade  where  no  shade 
should  naturally  be,  and  garnished  with  crimson. 

He  had  doubled  forward,  reflexing  to  the  blow. 
He  was  dead,  stone  dead;  his  crafty  spirit  issued 
upon  the  red  trail  of  ball  through  his  brain. 

"  Thank  God,"  I  rejoiced. 

She  had  sunk  back  wearily. 

"  That  is  the  last." 

"  Won't  they  try  again,  you  think  ?  " 

"  The  last  spare  shot,  I  mean.  We  have  only  our 
two  left.  We  must  save  those."  She  gravely  sur 
veyed  me. 

"  Yes,  we  must  save  those,"  I  assented.  The  reali 
zation  broke  unbelievable  across  a  momentary  hiatus; 
brought  me  down  from  the  false  heights,  to  face  it 
with  her. 

A  dizzy  space  had  opened  before  me.  I  knew  that 
she  moved  aside.  She  exclaimed. 


THE  QUEEN  WINS  297 

"Look!" 

It  was  the  canteen,  drained  dry  by  a  jagged  gash 
from  the  sharpshooter's  lead. 

"  No  matter,  dear,"  she  said. 

"  No  matter,"  said  I. 

The  subject  was  not  worth  pursuing. 

"  We  have  discouraged  their  game,  again.  And  in 
case  they  rush  us " 

This  from  her. 

"  In  case  they  rush  us "  I  repeated.  "  We  can 

wait  a  little,  and  see." 


CHAPTER  XXI 

WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS 

THE  Sioux  had  quieted.  They  let  the  hollow  alone, 
tenanted  as  it  was  with  death ;  there  was  for  us  a  sat 
isfaction  in  that  tribute  to  our  defense.  Quite  me 
thodically,  and  with  cruel  show  of  leisure  they  dis 
tributed  themselves  by  knots,  in  a  half-encircling 
string  around  our  asylum;  they  posted  a  sentry, 
ahorse,  as  a  lookout;  and  lolling  upon  the  bare 
ground  in  the  sun  glare  they  chatted,  laughed,  rested, 
but  never  for  an  instant  were  we  dismissed  from  their 
eyes  and  thoughts. 

"  They  will  wait,  too.  They  can  afford  it,"  she 
murmured.  "  It  is  cheaper  for  them  than  losing 
lives." 

"If  they  knew  we  had  only  the  two  car 
tridges ?" 

"  They  don't,  yet." 

"  And  they  will  find  out  too  late,"  I  hazarded. 

"  Yes,  too  late.  We  shall  have  time."  Her  voice 
did  not  waver;  it  heartened  with  its  vengeful,  deter 
mined  mien. 

Occasionally  a  warrior  invoked  us  by  brandishing 
arm  or  weapon  in  surety  of  hate  and  in  promise  of 
fancied  reprisal.  What  fools  they  were!  Now  and 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  299 

again  a  warrior  galloped  upon  the  back  trail ;  returned 
gleefully,  perhaps  to  flourish  an  army  canteen  at  us. 

"  There  probably  is  water  where  we  heard  the 
frogs  last  night,"  she  remarked. 

"  I'm  glad  we  didn't  try  to  reach  it,  for  camp,"  said 
I. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  she.  "  We  might  have  run 
right  into  them.  We  are  better  here.  At  least,  I 
am." 

"  And  I,"  I  confirmed. 

Strangely  enough  we  seemed  to  have  little  to  say, 
now  in  this  precious  doldrums  where  we  were  be 
calmed,  between  the  distant  past  and  the  unlogged  fu 
ture.  We  had  not  a  particle  of  shade,  not  a  trace  of 
coolness:  the  sun  was  high,  all  our  rocky  recess  was  a 
furnace,  fairly  reverberant  with  the  heat;  the  flies 
(and  I  vaguely  pondered  upon  how  they  had  existed, 
previously,  and  whence  they  had  gathered)  buzzed 
briskly,  attracted  by  the  dead  mule,  unseen,  and  cap 
tiously  diverted  to  us  also.  We  lay  tolerably  bol 
stered,  without  much  movement;  and  as  the  Sioux 
were  not  firing  upon  us,  we  might  wax  careless  of 
their  espionage. 

Her  eyes,  untroubled,  scarcely  left  my  face;  I 
feared  to  let  mine  leave  hers.  Of  what  she  was  think 
ing  I  might  not  know,  and  I  did  not  seek  to  know — 
was  oddly  yielding  and  content,  for  our  decisions  had 
been  made.  And  still  it  was  unreal,  impossible:  we, 
in  this  guise;  the  Sioux,  watching;  the  desert,  wait- 


300  DESERT  DUST 

ing;  death  hovering — a  sudden  death,  a  violent  death, 
the  end  of  that  which  had  barely  begun;  an  end  sus 
pended  in  sight  like  the  Dionysian  sword,  with  the 
single  hair  already  frayed  by  the  greedy  shears  of 
the  Fate.  A  snap,  at  our  own  signal;  then  presto, 
change ! 

It  simply  could  not  be  true.  Why,  somewhere  my 
father  and  mother  busied,  mindless;  somewhere  Ben- 
ton  roared,  mindless;  somewhere  the  wagon  train 
toiled  on,  mindless;  the  stage  road  missed  us  not,  nor 
wondered;  the  railroad  graders  shoveled  and  scraped 
and  picked  as  blithely  as  if  the  same  desert  did  not 
contain  them,  and  us;  cities  throbbed,  people  worked 
and  played,  and  we  were  of  as  little  concern  to  them 
now  as  we  would  be  a  year  hence. 

Then  it  all  pridefully  resolved  to  this,  like  the 
warming  tune  of  a  fine  battle  chant:  That  I  was  here, 
with  my  woman,  my  partner  woman,  the  much  desir 
able  woman  whom  I  had  won;  which  was  more  than 
Daniel,  or  Montoyo,  or  the  Indian  chief,  or  the  wide 
world  of  other  men  could  boast. 

Soon  she  spoke,  at  times,  musingly. 

"  I  did  make  up  to  you,  at  first,"  she  said.  "  In 
Omaha,  and  on  the  train." 

"  Did  you  ? "  I  smiled.  She  was  so  childishly 
frank. 

"  But  that  was  only  passing.  Then  in  Benton  I 
knew  you  were  different.  I  wondered  what  it  was; 
but  you  were  different  from  anybody  that  I  had  met 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  301 

before.  There's  always  such  a  moment  in  a  woman's 
life." 

I  soberly  nodded.  Nothing  could  be  a  platitude  in 
such  a  place  and  such  an  hour. 

"  I  wished  to  help  you.    Do  you  believe  that  now  ?  " 

"  I  believe  you,  dear  heart,"  I  assured. 

"  But  it  was  partly  because  I  thought  you  could 
help  me,"  she  said,  like  a  confession.  And  she  added: 
"  I  had  nothing  wrong  in  mind.  You  were  to  be  a 
friend,  not  a  lover.  I  had  no  need  of  lovers;  no,  no." 

We  were  silent  for  an  interval.    Again  she  spoke. 

"  Do  you  care  anything  about  my  family  ?  I  sup 
pose  not.  That  doesn't  matter,  here.  But  you 
wouldn't  be  ashamed  of  them.  I  ran  away  with  Mon- 
toyo.  I  thought  he  was  something  else.  How  could 
I  go  home  after  that?  I  tried  to  be  true  to  him,  we 
had  plenty  of  money,  he  was  kind  to  me  at  first,  but 
he  dragged  me  down  and  my  father  and  mother  don't 
know  even  yet.  Yes,  I  tried  to  help  him,  too.  I 
stayed.  It's  a  life  that  gtts  into  one's  blood.  I 
feared  him  terribly,  in  time.  He  was  a  breed,  and  a 
devil — a  gentleman  devil."  She  referred  in  the  past 
tense,  as  to  some  fact  definitely  bygone.  "  I  had  to 

play  fair  with  him,  or And  when  I  had  done 

that,  hoping,  why,  what  else  could  I  do  or  where  could 
I  go?  So  many  people  knew  me."  She  smiled. 
"  Suddenly  I  tied  to  you,  sir.  I  seemed  to  feel — I 
took  the  chance." 

"  Thank  God  you  did,"  I  encouraged. 


302  DESERT  DUST 

"  But  I  would  not  have  wronged  myself,  or  you, 
or  him,"  she  eagerly  pursued.  "  I  never  did  wrong 
him."  She  flushed.  "  No  man  can  convict  me.  You 
hurt  me  when  you  refused  me,  dear;  it  told  me  that 
you  didn't  understand.  Then  I  was  desperate.  I  had 
been  shamed  before  you,  and  by  you.  You  were  go 
ing,  and  not  understanding,  and  I  couldn't  let  you. 
So  I  did  follow  you  to  the  wagon  train.  You  were 
my  star.  I  wonder  why.  I  did  feel  that  you'd  get  me 
out — you  see,  I  was  so  madly  selfish,  like  a  drowning 
person.  I  clutched  at  you ;  might  have  put  you  under 
while  climbing  up,  myself." 

"  We  have  climbed  together,"  said  I.  "  You  have 
made  me  into  a  man." 

"  But  I  forced  myself  on  you.  I  played  you  against 
Daniel.  I  foresaw  that  you  might  have  to  kill  him,  to 
rid  me  of  him.  You  were  my  weapon.  And  I  used 
you.  Do  you  blame  me  that  I  used  you  ?  " 

"  Daniel  and  I  were  destined  to  meet,  just  as  you 
and  I  were  destined  to  meet,"  said  I.  "  I  had  to 
prove  myself  on  him.  It  would  have  happened  any 
way.  Had  I  not  stood  up  to  him  you  would  not  have 
loved  me." 

"  That  was  not  the  price/'  she  sighed.  "  Maybe 
you  don't  understand  yet.  I'm  so  afraid  you  don't 
understand,"  she  pleaded.  "At  the  last  I  had  re 
signed  you,  I  would  have  left  you  free,  I  saw  how 
you  felt ;  but,  oh,  it  happened  just  the  same — we  were 
fated,  and  you  showed  that  you  hated  me." 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  303 

"  I  never  hated  you.  I  was  perplexed.  That  was 
a  part  of  love,"  said  I. 

"  You  mean  it?  You  are  holding  nothing  back?  " 
she  asked,  anxious. 

"  I  am  holding  nothing  back,"  I  answered.  "  As 
you  will  know,  I  think,  in  time  to  come." 

Again  we  reclined,  silent,  at  peace:  a  strange  peace 
of  mind  and  body,  to  which  the  demonstrations  by 
the  waiting  Sioux  were  alien  things. 

She  spoke. 

"  Are  we  very  guilty,  do  you  think  ?  " 

"In  what,  dearest?" 

"  In  this,  here.  I  am  already  married,  you 
know." 

"  That  is  another  life,"  I  reasoned.  "  It  is  long 
ago  and  under  different  law." 

"  But  if  we  went  back  into  it — if  we  escaped?  " 

"  Then  we  should — but  don't  let's  talk  of  that." 

"  Then  you  should  forget  and  I  should  return  to 
Benton,"  she  said.  "  I  have  decided.  I  should  re 
turn  to  Benton,  where  Montoyo  is,  and  maybe  find 
another  way.  But  I  should  not  live  with  him ;  never, 
never!  I  should  ask  him  to  release  me." 

"  I,  with  you,"  I  informed.  "  We  should  go  to 
gether,  and  do  what  was  best." 

"You  would?  You  wouldn't  be  ashamed,  or 
afraid?" 

"  Ashamed  or  afraid  of  what?  " 

She  cried  out  happily,  and  shivered. 


304  DESERT  DUST  , 

"  I  hope  we  don't  have  to.  He  might  kill  you. 
Yes,  I  hope  we  don't  have  to.  Do  you  mind  ?  " 

I  shook  my  head,  smiling  my  response.  There  were 
tears  in  her  eyes,  repaying  me. 

Our  conversation  became  more  fitful.  Time  sped, 
I  don't  know  how,  except  that  we  were  in  a  kind  of 
lethargy,  taking  no  note  of  time  and  hanging  fast  to 
this  our  respite  from  the  tempestuous  past. 

Once  she  dreamily  murmured,  apropos  of  nothing, 
yet  apropos  of  much: 

"  We  must  be  about  the  same  age.  I  am  not  old, 
not  really  very  old." 

"  I  am  twenty-five,"  I  answered. 

"  So  I  thought,"  she  mused. 

Then,  later,  in  manner  of  having  revolved  this  idea 
also,  more  distinctly  apropos  and  voiced  with  a  cer 
tain  triumph: 

"  I'm  glad  we  drank  water  when  we  might;  aren't 
you?" 

"  You  were  so  wise,"  I  praised ;  and  I  felt  sorry  for 
her  cracked  lips.  It  is  astonishing  with  what  swift 
ness,  even  upon  the  dry  desert,  amid  the  dry  air,  un 
der  the  dry  burning  sun,  thirst  quickens  into  a  con 
suming  fire  scorching  from  within  outward  to  the 
skin. 

We  lapsed  into  that  remarkable  patience,  playing 
the  game  with  the  Sioux  and  steadily  viewing  each 
other;  and  she  asked,  casually: 

"  Where  will  you  shoot  me,  Frank  ?  " 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  305 

This  bared  the  secret  heart  of  me. 

"  No !  No !  "  I  begged.  "  Don't  speak  of  that.  It 
will  be  bad  enough  at  the  best.  How  can  I  ?  I  don't 
know  how  I  can  do  it !  " 

"You  will,  though,"  she  soothed.  "I'd  rather 
have  it  from  you.  You  must  be  brave,  for  yourself 
and  for  me;  and  kind,  and  quick.  I  think  it  should 
be  through  the  temple.  That's  sure.  But  you  won't 
wait  to  look,  will  you?  You'll  spare  yourself 
that?" 

This  made  me  groan,  craven,  and  wipe  my  hand 
across  my  forehead  to  brush  away  the  frenzy.  The 
ringers  came  free,  damp  with  cold  sticky  sweat — a 
prodigy  of  a  parchment  skin  which  puzzled  me. 

We  had  not  exchanged  a  caress,  save  by  voice ;  had 
not  again  touched  each  other.  Sometimes  I  glanced 
at  the  Sioux,  but  not  for  long;  I  dreaded  to  lose  sight 
of  her  by  so  much  as  a  moment.  The  Sioux  re 
mained  virtually  as  from  the  beginning  of  their  vigil. 
They  sat  secure,  drank,  probably  ate,  with  time  their 
ally:  sat  judicial  and  persistent,  as  though  depending 
upon  the  progress  of  a  slow  fuse,  or  upon  the  work 
ings  of  poison,  which  indeed  was  the  case. 

Thirst  and  heat  tortured  unceasingly.  The  sun  had 
passed  the  zenith — this  sun  of  a  culminating  summer 
throughout  which  he  had  thrived  regal  and  lustful. 
It  seemed  ignoble  of  him  that  he  now  should  stoop 
to  torment  only  us,  and  one  of  us  a  small  woman. 
There  was  all  his  boundless  domain  for  him. 


306  DESERT  DUST 

But  stoop  he  did,  burning  nearer  and  nearer.  She 
broke  with  sudden  passion  of  hoarse  appeal. 

"  Why  do  we  wait?    Why  not  now?  " 

"  We  ought  to  wait,"  I  stammered,  miserable  and 
pitying. 

"  Yes,"  she  whispered,  submissive,  "  I  suppose  we 
ought.  One  always  does.  But  I  am  so  tired.  I 
think,"  she  said,  "  that  I  will  let  my  hair  down.  I 
shall  go  with  my  hair  down.  I  have  a  right  to,  at  the 
last." 

Whereupon  she  fell  to  loosening  her  hair  and  braid 
ing  it  with  hurried  fingers. 

Then  after  a  time  I  said: 

"  We'll  not  be  much  longer,  dear." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  she,  panting,  her  lips  stiff,  her 
eyes  bright  and  feverish.  "  They'll  rush  us  at  sun 
down;  maybe  before." 

"  I  believe,"  said  I,  blurring  the  words,  for  my 
tongue  was  getting  unmanageable,  "  they're  making 
ready  now." 

She  exclaimed  and  struggled  and  sat  up,  and  we 
both  gazed.  Out  there  the  Sioux,  in  that  world  of 
their  own,  had  aroused  to  energy.  I  fancied  that  they 
had  palled  of  the  inaction.  At  any  rate  they  were 
upon  their  feet,  several  were  upon  their  horses,  others 
mounted  hastily,  squad  joined  squad  as  though  by 
summons,  and  here  came  their  outpost  scout,  gallop 
ing  in,  his  blanket  streaming  from  one  hand  like  a 
banner  of  an  Islam  prophet. 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  307 

They  delayed  an  instant,  gesticulating. 

"  It  will  be  soon,"  she  whispered,  touching  my  arm. 
"  When  they  are  half-way,  don't  fail.  I  trust  you. 
Will  you  kiss  me  ?  That  is  only  the  once." 

I  kissed  her;  dry  cracked  lips  met  dry  cracked  lips. 
She  laid  herself  down  and  closed  her  eyes,  and 
smiled. 

"I'm  all  right,"  she  said.  "And  tired.  I've 
worked  so  hard,  for  only  this.  You  mustn't  look." 

"  And  you  must  wait  for  me,  somewhere,"  I  en 
treated.  "  Just  a  moment." 

"Of  course,"  she  sighed. 

The  Sioux  charged,  shrieking,  hammering,  lashing, 
all  of  one  purpose:  that,  us;  she,  I;  my  life,  her  body; 
and  quickly  kneeling  beside  her  (I  was  cool  and  firm 
and  collected)  I  felt  her  hand  guide  the  revolver 
barrel.  But  I  did  not  look.  She  had  forbidden,  and 
I  kept  my  eyes  upon  them,  until  they  were  half-way, 
and  in  exultation  I  pulled  the  trigger,  my  hand  al 
ready  tensed  to  snatch  and  cock  and  deliver  myself 
under  their  very  grasp.  That  was  a  sweetness. 

The  hammer  clicked.  There  had  been  no  jar,  no 
report.  The  hammer  had  only  clicked,  I  tell  you, 
shocking  me  to  the  core.  A  missed  cartridge?  An 
empty  chamber?  Which?  No  matter.  I  should 
achieve  for  her,  first;  then,  myself.  I  heard  her  gasp, 
they  were  very  near,  how  they  shouted,  how  the  bul 
lets  and  arrows  spatted  and  hissed,  and  I  had  con 
vulsively  cocked  the  gun,  she  had  clutched  it — when 


3o8  DESERT  DUST 

looking  through  them,  agonized  and  blinded  as  I  was 
— looking  through  them  as  if  they  were  phantasms  I 
sensed  another  sound  and  with  sight  sharpened  I  saw. 

Then  I  wrested  the  revolver  from  her.  I  fired  point- 
blank,  I  fired  again  (the  Colt's  did  not  fail) ;  they 
swept  by,  hooting,  jostling;  they  thudded  on;  and  ris 
ing  I  screeched  and  waved,  as  bizarre,  no  doubt,  as 
any  animated  scarecrow. 

It  had  been  a  trumpet  note,  and  a  cavalry  guidon 
and  a  rank  of  bobbing  figures  had  come  galloping, 
galloping  over  an  imperceptible  swell. 

She  cried  to  me,  from  my  feet. 

"  You  didn't  do  it!    You  didn't  do  it!  " 

"We're  saved,"  I  blatted.  "Hurrah!  We're 
saved!  The  soldiers  are  here." 

Again  the  trumpet  pealed,  lilting  silvery.  She  tot 
tered  up,  clinging  to  me.  She  stared.  She  released 
me,  and  to  my  gladly  questing  gaze  her  face  was  very 
white,  her  eyes  struggling  for  comprehension,  like 
those  of  one  awakened  from  a  dream. 

"  I  must  go  back  to  Benton,"  she  faltered.  "  I 
shall  never  get  away  from  Benton." 

We  stood  mute  while  the  blue-coats  raced  on  with 
hearty  cheers  and  brave  clank  of  saber  and  canteen. 
We  were  sitting  composedly  when  the  lieutenant 
scrambled  to  us,  among  our  rocks;  the  troopers  fol 
lowed,  curiously  scanning. 

His  stubbled  red  face,  dust-smeared,  queried  us 
keenly;  so  did  his  curt  voice. 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  309 

"Just  in  time?" 

"In  time,"  I  croaked.  "Water!  For  her— for 
me." 

There  was  a  canteen  apiece.     We  sucked. 

"  You  are  the  two  from  the  Mormon  wagon 
train?  "  he  asked. 

"Yes,  sir.     You  know?"  I  uttered. 

"  We  came  on  as  fast  as  we  could.  The  Sioux  are 
raiding  again.  By  God,  you  had  a  narrow  squeak, 
sir,"  he  reproved.  "  You  were  crazy  to  try  it — you 
and  a  woman,  alone.  We'll  take  you  along  as  soon 
as  my  Pawnees  get  in  from  chasing  those  beggars." 

Distant  whoops  from  a  pursuit  drifted  in  to  us, 
out  of  the  desert. 

"Captain  Adams  sent  you?"  I  inquired. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  will  go  back,"  I  agreed.  "  I  will  go  back,  but 
there's  no  need  of  Mrs.  Montoyo.  If  you  could  see 
her  safely  landed  at  a  stage  station,  and  for  Ben- 
ton ?" 

"  We'll  land  you  both.  I  have  to  report  at  Bridger. 
The  train  is  all  right  It  has  an  escort  to  Bitter 
Creek." 

"  I  can  overtake  it,  or  join  it,"  said  I.  "  But  the 
lady  goes  to  Benton." 

"Yes,  yes,"  he  snapped.  "That's  nothing  to  me, 
of  course.  But  you'll  do  better  to  wait  for  the  train 

at  Bridger,  Mr.  ?  I  don't  believe  I  have  your 

name  ?  " 


3io  DESERT  DUST 

"  Beeson,"  I  informed,  astonished. 

"  And  the  lady's  ?    Your  sister  ?    Wife  ?  " 

"Mrs.  Montoyo,"  I  informed.  And  I  repeated, 
that  there  should  be  no  misunderstanding.  "  Mrs. 
Montoyo,  from  Benton.  No  relative,  sir." 

He  passed  it  over,  as  a  gentleman  should. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Beeson,  you  have  business  with  the 
train?" 

"  I  have  business  with  Captain  Adams,  and  he  with 
me,"  I  replied.  "As  probably  you  know.  Since  he 
sent  you,  I  shall  consider  myself  under  arrest;  but  I 
will  return  of  my  own  free  will  as  soon  as  Mrs. 
Montoyo  is  safe." 

"Under  arrest?  For  what?"  He  blankly  eyed 
me. 

"For  killing  that  man,  sir.  Captain  Adams'  son. 
But  I  was  forced  to  it — I  did  it  in  self-defense.  I 
should  not  have  left,  and  I  am  ready  to  face  the  mat 
ter  whenever  possible." 

"  Oh ! "  said  he,  with  a  shrug,  tossing  the  idea 
aside.  "If  that's  all!  I  did  hear  something  about 
that,  from  some  of  my  men,  but  nothing  from 
Adams.  You  didn't  kill  him,  I  understand;  merely 
laid  him  out.  I  saw  him,  myself,  but  I  didn't  ask 
questions.  So  you  can  rest  easy  on  that  score.  His 
old  man  seemed  to  have  no  grudge  against  you  for 
it.  Fact  is,  he  scarcely  allowed  me  time  to  warn  him 
of  the  Sioux  before  he  told  me  you  and  a  woman  were 
out  and  were  liable  to  lose  your  scalps,  if  nothing 


WE  WAIT  THE  SUMMONS  311 

worse.  I  think,"  the  lieutenant  added,  narrowing 
upon  me,  "  that  you'll  find  those  Mormons  are  as  just 
as  any  other  set,  in  a  show  down.  The  lad,  I  gath 
ered  from  the  talk,  drew  on  you  after  he'd  cried 
quits."  He  turned  hastily.  "You  spoke,  madam? 
Anything  wanted  ?  " 

The  trumpeter  orderly  plucked  me  by  the  sleeve. 
He  was  a  squat,  sun-scorched  little  man,  and  his  red- 
rimmed  blue  eyes  squinted  at  me  with  painful  inter 
est.  He  whispered  harshly  from  covert  of  bronzed 
hand. 

"  Beg  your  pardon,  sorr.  Mrs.  Montoyo,  be  it — 
that  lady?" 

"  Yes." 

"  From  Benton  City,  sorr,  ye  say  ?  " 

"  From  Benton  City." 

"  Sure,  I  know  the  name.  It's  the  same  of  a  gam 
bler  the  vigilantes  strung  up  last  week;  for  I  was 
there  to  see." 

I  heard  a  gusty  sigh,  an  exclamation  from  the 
lieutenant.  My  Lady  had  fainted  again. 

"  The  reaction,  sir,"  I  apologized,  to  the  lieuten 
ant,  as  we  worked. 

"  Naturally,"  answered  he.  "  You'll  both  go  back 
to  Benton?" 

"  Certainly,"  said  I. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

STAR  SHINE 

IT  was  six  weeks  later,  with  My  Lady  all  recovered 
and  I  long  since  healed,  and  Fort  Bridger  pleasant  in 
our  memories,  when  we  two  rode  into  Benton  once 
more,  by  horse  from  the  nearest  stage  point.  And 
here  we  sat  our  saddles,  silent,  wondering;  for  of 
Benton  there  was  little  significant  of  the  past,  very 
little  tangible  of  the  present,  naught  promising  of  its 
future. 

Roaring  Benton  City  had  vanished,  you  might  say, 
utterly.  The  iron  tendrils  of  the  Pacific  Railway 
glistened,  stretching  westward  into  the  sunset,  and 
Benton  had  followed  the  lure,  to  Rawlins  (as  had 
been  told  us),  to  Green  River,  to  Bryan — likely  now 
still  onward,  for  the  track  was  traveling  fast,  charg 
ing  the  mountain  slopes  of  Utah.  The  restless  dust 
had  settled.  The  Queen  Hotel,  the  Big  Tent,  the 
rows  of  canvas,  plank,  tin,  sheet  metal,  what-not 
stores,  saloons,  gambling  dens,  dance  halls,  human 
habitations — the  blatant  street  and  the  station  itself 
had  subsided  into  this:  a  skeleton  company  of  hacked 
and  weazened  posts,  a  fantastic  outcrop  of  coldly 
blackened  clay  chimneys,  a  sprinkling  of  battered 
cans.  The  fevered  populace  who  had  ridden  high 


STAR  SHINE  313 

upon  the  tide  of  rapid  life  had  remained  only  as 
ghosts  haunting  a  potter's  field,  and  the  turmoil  of 
frenzied  pleasure  had  dwindled  to  a  coyote's  yelp 
mocking  the  twilight. 

"  It  all,  all  is  wiped  out,  like  he  is,"  she  said.  "  But 
I  wished  to  see." 

"All,  all  is  wiped  out,  dear  heart,"  said  I.  "All  of 
that.  But  here  are  you  and  I." 

Through  star  shine  we  cantered  side  by  side  east 
ward  down  the  old,  empty  freighting  road,  for  the 
railway  station  at  Fort  Steele. 


T.HE    END 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


BWSL 

APR  2  9  1961 


DEC 

D-um. 
JAN  03 1383  . 


m  L9-50w-9,'60(B3610s4)444 


UC  SOUTHERN 

111"11  -c 

000  255 


3  1158  00820  0080 


